A new community garden will officially launch this weekend after a successful crowdfunding campaign.

On Sunday (July 24), volunteers and members of the public will celebrate the opening of the Grow garden, on a plot of land off Pyrles Lane in Loughton.

Members of the community are invited to bring picnics to the garden, where there will be children’s activities organised by Epping Forest Field Centre and information about what will be grown on the land.

Town mayor Carol Davies will lead the official opening ceremony, after Loughton Town Council agreed to lease the land to Restore Community Centre to develop the food-growing project.

The project has raised £4,000 and volunteers from the centre have cleared the land, which was covered in overgrown brambles and litter.

It is hoped that the garden will “bring people together” to grow food and meet new people, and it will be open to everyone regardless of age or ability.

Vegetable beds, a shed and a compost toilet will be built before planting starts on the land.

Anne Redelinghuys, project manager for Grow, said: “We are excited to launch this project and welcome people in the area to get involved.

“Community food-growing not only increases access to healthy produce but is a great way to connect with others, learn new skills as well as improve health and well-being.”

After the launch, the Grow garden will run regular volunteer days.

People are invited to bring picnics to the garden from 1pm on Sunday, with the official launch starting at 2.30pm at IG10 2NH, next to Hillyfields open space.

For more information, visit www.growloughton.org.uk.