THE CHILDREN of Oakwood Primary and St Clare's Day Nursery are pretty excited about the prospect of a new community garden on their doorstep.

"I think we should build a mansion with a swimming pool in the middle of it," announces Primary Four pupil Chris White, who is eight.

"We could have a forest," shouts Aaron Hood, 7, from Primary Three.

"We should grow vegetables in the shape of our school name," suggests Lorraine McEnroe, 10, who is in Primary Six.

"Strawberries," says three-year-old Logan Patterson, helpfully.

Whatever the people of Easterhouse decide to do in the garden, it's going to be amazing, as community activist and the woman driving the project, Jane Boyce, explains.

"It's ugly and overgrown and it's a shame this bit of land just lies here, doing nothing, when it could be used by us all," she explains.

"A few of us got together, and with the help of our fantastic councillor and Jobs and Business Glasgow, plus support from FARE, we came up with a plan."

The plan involves stripping the overgrown and weed-filled land back to plant flowers and grass, installing some seating and a path, and growing fruit and vegetables for the local community.

Already, it has created a stir of interest among local groups and businesses, and Jane is hoping the momentum will build as plans take shape.

"It's for the community - the first time this area will have had anything like this, and we hope people will be proud of it and take care of it," she smiles.

"Getting the Evening Times Streets Ahead grant is such a wonderful boost for us - finally, we can start our project and soon we will have an amazing garden."

Evelyn Fairlie, child development officer from St Clare's Day Nursery, agrees.

"We have our own eco-group and grow vegetables, so the children are really looking forward to helping create the garden," she explains.

Janie Thompson and Dean Crawford from FARE (Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse), a charity which supports local people with a host of activities and events, are also behind the project.

"It will be great to see this area developed," says Janie. "Being able to grow food and give it to the local schools and community groups is a great idea."

Local mum Barbara Hastings adds: "My dad would love to come here - it will be a place for young and old, where grandparents can spend some time with their grandkids teaching them all about gardening and growing food."

But before the Lochend Community Garden can become a reality, there's work to be done.

"Diggers and skips, sheds and tools, clearing out weeds, working out where everything will go - it's going to be hard work," says Jane, a former Evening Times Community Champion winner.

"But everyone is really excited about it and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped us get things off the ground."

The pupils of Oakwood agree.

"Just being able to look at plants and flowers instead of a big dumping ground will be brilliant," says Megan Scally, 10, from Primary Six.

"Our school used to be able to use this garden, but then it got ruined by people throwing litter and bottles, and it wasn't safe for us anymore."

She smiles: "I like the sound of the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign because it helps people make their communities better. It puts in good things like gardens and flowers and gets rid of the bad stuff.

"Now it's helping us and we're all really pleased about that."

With the help of our generous partners Glasgow Housing Association, Clean Glasgow, Scottish Fire and Rescue, ScotRail and City Charitable Trust, the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign helps friends and neighbours rally together to improve their communities.

For more information visit www.eveningtimes.co.uk or email streetsahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk. You can also call 0141 302 6555.