THE story of how a dilapidated garage site became a vibrant community garden was at the heart of an event held there on Sunday.

Stories of the Great Turning, 16 tales of regeneration, was launched at Barracks Lane Community Garden, East Oxford. The first chapter in the book is written by one of the garden’s creators, Annie Davy, and is about how the garden came into being.

About 80 people came together to celebrate the garden and the book, enjoy live music and sample pizzas made by Kirsten Baker in a new wood-fired oven at the site.

Melanie Newman, who edited the book with Peter Reason, said: “It was the first time I had been to the garden. It was terrific.”