Volunteers and Vision Redbridge’s nature conservation team were making sure the Ilford War Memorial Gardens will be looking their best on Remembrance Sunday.

An action group, which is transforming the gardens off Eastern Avenue near Newbury Park tube station, has got to work on its central cross flowerbed.

On Wednesday of last week, volunteers removed soil to allow for new planting.

Action group member John Bowers, 64, of Birkbeck Road, Newbury Park, said: “The earth itself has rose sickness.

“It’s had to come out to a depth of two feet.”

Once around 24 tonnes of soil have been removed and replaced with new earth, 32 rose bonica and 200 dwarf lavender plants will be planted.

The group will tidy up the area ahead of Remembrance Day and then planting should be completed by March.

Cllr Ruth Clark, chairman of the action group, said: “It was looking tired and it was getting used for dogs and footballs.

“They’re putting in a lot of work, they really are.

“I’m so proud of them.”