MORE than 550 roses are being planted in a York park's refurbished flower garden.

Coun Sonja Crisp, right, City of York Council's cabinet member for leisure, helped plant some of the shrubs, with the help of, from left, John Coulson, chairman of the Friends of West Bank Park, and Jane Cullen and Shona Harrison, chairman and treasurer respectively of the West Bank Park Heritage Centre Project.

Members of the West Bank Park Heritage Centre and Cafe Group have been helping to plant 37 new beds, including seven varieties of rose and 552 shrub roses, at the Holgate park in time for a summer display.

They are replacing weakened and old flowers from the original gardens which may have been part of the Backhouse Nurseries, part of the site's history. The improvements are being done in time for Green Flag judging later in spring, with the park hoping to retain its status for another year as plans for a heritage centre explaining its past and encouraging more community links move forward.

The rose-planting project has been supported by the Friends of West Bank Park, with financial support from the Yorkshire Garden Society. Coun Sonja Crisp, City of York Council's cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, said: "These new roses will, I hope, give the next generation much pleasure."