It was lovely to discover this pretty little oasis in central Portsmouth - a secluded garden behind All Saints church which has clearly been loved and cared for until recently.

The plan is to create a garden for various community groups to use, spending time with plants, developing social interactions and for asylum seekers to improve their English.

Kat, Jo and I met the organiser, Anita, and other volunteers to start to plan the garden and then got stuck in with digging and laying dockyard-donated rope to divide the garden areas.

Our activity brought the attention of Jim, who lives opposite the garden, and who offered to come and help us. He managed to remove the full compost bins and to load compost into the wheelbarrow to feed the soil. He hopes to join us again on subsequent weeks.

This is likely to be a regular community mission, to work alongside asylum seekers and help them to create their edible garden and a place to relax.

Thanks to Jo & Kat for the before and after photos and to Katie CR for the muffins for our after-mission refreshments.