A nature park was officially opened over the weekend after a five year project to transform the derelict land into a community haven.

Residents were celebrating after the Rush Green Allotments and Nature Park in West Road and Wolseley Road, Romford opened on Saturday September 3.

Chairman of the Rush Green Regeneration Group, David Hodge said: “It was fantastic.

“It is still a work in progress but it is a wonderful community facility that has actually been created by the community.”

The event which attracted 100 people included a special blessing of the land from Father Martin Howse from St Augustine’s Church in Rush Green.

There was also a special visit from Romford MP Andrew Rosindell and Havering Deputy Mayor Cllr Lyden Thorpe.

David said: “It was a great day, the weather was good and we had lots of support from everyone that came along.

“It was a celebration of the nature park and all the hard work that has gone into making it a success.”

A committee group was originally set up four years ago to transform the derelict land into a nature park.

A year later the group received a grant for �50,000 from the National Lottery Trust and �35,000 from Veolia Havering Riverside Trust.

The five acre land now boasts a set of allotments where people can grow their own fruit and vegetables and a nature park housing a bee hive with butterflies and insects.

David said: “The area has just been transformed by the local community.

“Its good for local people because it means that they can access amenity in an area where facilities like these are quickly disappearing.

“So it means that they now have an area that they can enjoy.”