Belper and Duffield Rotary Club in Derbyshire has been galvanised into action to ​make the square in front of Belper Library a more welcoming space.

The Belper in Bloom group asked the Rotary club to make the square more ​welcoming for the many people using the library and an area within a UNESCO ​world heritage site.

Quickly, Rotary volunteers sprang into action, clearing three raised beds, ​refreshing compost and putting a call out for donations of plants to local people ​and businesses.

Project leader, Rotarian Dave Ashley, said: “The response had been marvellous ​with a team of volunteers and people coming forward to donate plants.

“Over a few short weeks, the library square had been made more welcoming by. ​People have been turning up with plants and even a tree which sparked Rotary ​determination to designate it as a 'peace tree’.”

The Rotary club was supported by the Derbyshire-based company Securiscape ​which donated the bulk of plants, including rhododendron and lavender, ​compost and bark chippings.

Local resident, Sarah Wainwright and son Rowan brought along a flowering ​cherry tree and other plants.

Dave Ashley added: “Trees are regarded as a symbol of peace as all trees grow ​towards the sun in parallel. The space between trees is symbolic of friendship as ​well as cordial and peaceful dialogue.

“The small purple-leaved flowering cherry tree donated by Sarah and Rowan has ​been planted on the grass. We have to do more work with the council, but Rotary ​is determined to have a properly identified ‘peace tree’.”