A working bee at Plummer Park on Sunday created 10 timber-edged garden beds, the first plots in the suburb’s new community garden.

Another 12 raised beds, courtesy of the Berrigan Men’s Shed, are due to arrive in the next few weeks and planting is likely to take place mid-June.

South Albury resident Vicki Gray, who helped organise the construction day, said the community response was wonderful.

About 18 people took part, ranging from youngsters to older adults, men and women.

“All very enthusiastic about having a little space to plant something and grow,” she said.

“We had children who were being instructed on how to use shovels and things.

“We had a lovely gentleman arrive who didn’t want to have a garden but donated a chilli plant and he arrived with some pots of frozen soup that he’d whipped up to sort of share around.”

Another man brought a tray of chai tea for the workers while Albury Council cultural development co-ordinator Narelle Vogel oversaw a sausage sizzle.

“So everyone was fed and watered at the end of all their hard work,” Mrs Gray said.

“I think we all thoroughly enjoyed the exercise and made it a really nice Sunday.”

The Plummer Park Community Garden follows similar neighbourhood ventures in central and East Albury, with a North Albury project also being planned.

Mrs Gray said the South Albury park and playground on the corner of Plummer and Panmure Streets had long been a neighbourhood attraction.

“We used to wander around there of a morning, take a picnic and the kids would play,” she said.

“It’s always been a fairly bland space, I guess, that’s why I think it’s so wonderful that now it hopefully will grow into something that’s very user-friendly for young and for older people too.

“Being lots of flats in Plummer Street particularly, not everybody has access to a garden, so I think it will be well-utilised.”

Another resident, who had since moved away, originally gained an Albury Council community grant while a couple of businesses also donated money or materials.

“People just seem to respond really well to the whole idea of a community garden space,” Mrs Gray said.

“It’s not about rules and regulations, it’s about people getting together and having a bit of a chat and planning a bit of stuff.

“We hope that once people see the garden starting to take shape and being planted that more people will want to be involved.”