A GREENOCK gardening guru is digging deep to help the community's dreams grow and flourish.

Bruce Newlands of the Inverclyde Shed shared his expertise with volunteers at Youth Connections.

His visit is part of the Next Step Project, which has been set up to tackle poverty in Larkfield.

Bruce Newlands with the team at Youth Connections. (Image: George Munro)

Kay Clark, of the initiative said: "Bruce has been helping volunteers as part of the Next Step Project funded by the Big Lottery."

There are four community gardens as a result of a previous Youth Connections project, Food for Thought.

These are at St Andrew's Primary, Larkfield Children's Centre, Aileymill Primary and Youth Connections itself.

Kay said: "Bruce gave volunteers training based on his knowledge and experience of growing growing your own food.

"He knows when the growing seasons are. At the moment St Andrew's are harvesting their vegetables and we are bringing a chef in to run a cookery session in a few weeks' time.

"They also have a pumpkin patch so we could make pumpkin soup.

"Here at Youth Connections, we have planted asparagus, red and brown onions and garlic, and we are planting strawberries in barrels.

"The group are also going to plant plug plants, leeks, carrots and Brussels sprouts, then we will be bringing in a chef again and making soup."

Aileymill's community garden is also linking up with its after-school crafts club to decorate the garden for Halloween.

Kay said: "The garden is not about growing food; it's about free access to activities."

Also at Aileymill Primary there will be a Halloween party with children wearing masks they have made at crafts sessions.

Kay said: "If you have two or three weans, buying costumes can cost a lot of money. We're looking at events families can access for free."