THE red road winding its way through Bonny- broom Family Learning Centre's garden will last long after the high-rise flats which inspired it have been pulled down.

Two of the towers have already been demolished, with the remaining six to be cleared by 2017.

The works have created a massive building site, with giant piles of rubble and brick surrounding the small nursery and its outdoor play area.

"Keeping the garden looking good with all of this going on around us has been a thankless task," admits team leader Patricia Gorman. "It is definitely in need of some TLC."

Bonnybroom is home to 88 children, aged from birth up to five years, and 14 staff.

The garden was created in 2006 after a parents' action group raised funds to buy a bench, planters and install the "red road", a figure-of-eight red monoblocked path

Patricia explains: "The parents wanted to include something of the area, so the 'red road' is a nod to the Red Road flats which tower above us. Many of the children who come here lived in the flats, so it's been strange for them to see them knocked down."

She smiles: "But they have learned such a lot too - all about construction sites and vehicles and demolition works.

"The workers on the site have been fantastic, helping out with events at our fun days, and waving back at the kids who love watching the diggers at work.

"And when the first tower came down, we were suddenly flooded by daylight. It was incredible."

With the support of the Community Involvement Partnership (CIP), which comprises local crews at Springburn Fire Station, police officers and Glasgow Housing Association environmental teams, Bonnybroom has slowly transformed the rest of its playground, with revamped decking, a new path and a lovely treehouse.

Now, thanks to a £500 grant from Streets Ahead and the ongoing support of the CIP, they are turning their attentions to the garden.

"We're replacing the worn-out bench and table, cleaning up the path and putting in new plants and flowers," says Patricia.

"We want to revive the sensory area, with lavender and rosemary and so on, and encourage bugs and beasties with a ladybird house and muddy puddle.

"We're incredibly fortunate to have the support of Streets Ahead. It will make a big difference to the garden and that means a lot not just to the children here, but to the whole community.

"One elderly lady who lived in the high rise flats used to call us up all the time to let us know if we'd left a bike out, or a toy lying in the rain.

"She said that she didn't have a garden, but that ours was a wee oasis that she considered her garden too."

Four-year-old Taylor Grimshaw is already impressed with the new trowels the Streets Ahead grant has provided.

"It's good fun coming to my nursery because you get to dig," she explains.

"I don't have a garden at my house, so I like playing in this one."

Calvin Greenhill and Caleb Innes, who are also four, agree.

"Digging is the best bit," says Calvin. "We planted flowers and broad beans and watched them grow."

Caleb adds: "It's funny when the digger drivers beep their horns. It's noisy."

Depute centre head Liz Peat is delighted to have Streets Ahead backing for the project.

"Our aim is to create the best outdoor space we can for the children who come here," she says.

"Consulting them is really important and their ideas will shape the garden. We're extremely grateful to the Evening Times and Streets Ahead for their support."

Scott Kennedy, of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, has been closely involved with Bonnybroom through the CIP.

"This is a great nursery, but it has had its problems simply because of all the derelict properties and demolition work surrounding it," he says.

"We were keen to help them out and make them less of a target for vandalism and fire-raising.

"We installed lighting and Police Scotland have increased patrols around the area, and our crews will help GHA's environmental teams to work on the garden."

Carey Trewavas, of Glasgow Housing Association, said: "We're working with Bonnybroom to help them make the £500 grant go even further.

"It's a challenging time for the nursery with all of the demolition work going on, but they have lots of fantastic ideas and it's great to be able to support them."

If the task of creating a lovely garden in the middle of a building site is daunting, Patricia Gorman and the rest of the nursery staff do not show it.

"Our whole environment is changing, and for the moment, it's messy and noisy," says Patricia. "But we see beyond the piles of rubble. The end is in sight."