The community garden at Chambers Park in Methven is to be removed because of a lack of interest in residents using and regularly maintaining it.

Methven Community Board members decided this week to ask Council’s Open Spaces team to remove the community garden, as it is overrun with weeds and an eyesore.

Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan, who sits on the board, said the garden was set up a few years ago by the Methven Food Forest group.

“They planted the back area with natives and council planted some fruit trees, and they are still there, along with a raised garden that has just been growing weeds.”

The fruit trees included three apple trees, three plum trees, three pear trees and a fig tree.

The raised garden once grew strawberries and herbs.

Ms McMillan said she had weeded it herself in the past and tried to engage with members of the community, but no one had come forward to maintain it.

“Now the whole thing is full of twitch and looks terrible.”

Community board chair Kelvin Holmes said enthusiasm had got the garden going, but a lack of enthusiasm was killing it, and there appeared to be no-one to carry on the work.

“The board is happy for it to be removed.”