A TEAM of volunteers which has been busy making sure the grounds of Great Malvern's library are kept in tip-top shape is ready to begin work anew as the spring approaches.

Friends of Malvern Library was formed last year from an initial group of friends who got together to clear weeds in the garden off Graham Road three years ago.

Since then, the group's efforts have become a more serious attempt to renovate and restore the beds and borders of the grounds, which were redesigned in 2007.

Although routine maintenance of the hedges and lawns is carried out by Malvern Town Council, funding from Worcestershire County Council, which owns the library, does not stretch to the full upkeep of the grounds.

To formalise the arrangement, Friends of Malvern Library Garden was formed last year as an It’s Your Neighbourhood group, part of Malvern In Bloom, with the support of the Royal Horticultural Society and the agreement of the town council, with which the group works in partnership.

Maggie Williams of the group said: "An enlarged team of volunteers, most of us experienced gardeners, has certainly made a difference to the appearance of the flowerbeds, and further improvements are planned for this year.

"We are strongly supported by the library staff and together we hope that the garden will bloom ever more beautifully. The many encouraging comments we receive from members of the public are much appreciated.

"In the meantime we were honoured to be nominated for Worcestershire’s Volunteer Team of the Year award and delighted that the visiting RHS assessor judged our group to be already operating at level four of five, namely Thriving.

"It is good to receive public acknowledgement for what we do, but our chief reward lies in gradually seeing the garden flourish again around its focal point of the war memorial."

Anyone who wants to find out more is urged to contact staff at the library.