A GARDEN for people with disabilities will be revamped thanks to a donation from the owner of the Hereford Times.

Hereford-based charity Aspire has been given £6,550 for its new garden project from the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the parent company of Newsquest Media Group, which owns the Hereford Times.

Aspire provides a range of services to people with a learning or other disabilities and wants to improve their garden at its community hub in Canal Road, Hereford.

The project "Garden Aspire-ations" will put life back in the garden- one half will be made into a sensory garden with raised beds and the other half will be planted with vegetables to supply their own cafe.

Manager Sue Bucknell said: "It was our Christmas lunch on the day we received the call to say we had been awarded the money, which made our day and our Christmas."

The charity took over the building in Canal Road in May 2014 from Herefordshire Council.

The garden was overgrown and staff worked hard throughout this year to tidy it up.

"But we were restricted with the amount of money we had to take it forward," Miss Bucknell said.

"To have all the money we need in one go is fantastic. We have got a gardening group starting in February and they can start looking into spending the money."

There is a cafe at the site, which is mainly for friends and family, but it is hoped it will become a community cafe for members of the public.

Two rowing boats have been donated by the Hereford Rowing Club to give the garden a theme to match the name of the road. The boats will be made into raised beds.

Miss Bucknell added: “People who use the service will be able to see the garden change and have input into the garden and have an end result, which will be nice.”