Volunteer call at Hyde Park's Royal Park garden

A community group in Leeds has appealed for more volunteers to help maintain a new garden on the site of a former school.

The space, on the site of the old Royal Park School in Hyde Park, opened in February 2024.

Planting beds for vegetables and a fruit orchard have been included in the park and are to be maintained by volunteers.

The Friends of Royal Park group said it was important people from the surrounding area could "come together in the space and feel a sense of ownership".

Plans for the Royal Park were set in motion following the closure of the school two decades ago and its later demolition.

Following conversations between the community and Leeds City Council, in 2020 a decision was made in 2020 to create the park.

Friends of Royal Park volunteer Dr Rebecca Brunk said the space had always been part of the community in Hyde Park, with the school previously acting as a community hub.

"When the council started to develop the space into a park we wanted to make sure there was a bit of the community still present in it."

"We want people to use the space, enjoy the space, come get fruit and berries.

"It's free to take and free to enjoy," she added.

As well as the community garden, Royal Park also features an outdoor gym.

Leeds City Council said it had been built next to a multi-use games area to support people in being physically active.

The park also offers children’s play features, aimed at younger and older children.

Some features remain from the site’s school days, including benches where the children used to sit.