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Dalby Square phone box in Margate unveiled by children and community groups

09:54, 29 October 2018

updated: 09:57, 29 October 2018

Superheroes braved the cold to celebrate the addition of a red telephone box to Dalby Square's community garden.

Youngsters dressed up as their favourite characters and also helped garden the historic Cliftonville space, which is being transformed under a conservation scheme.

Community groups gathered to plant hundreds of bulbs including bluebells, snowdrops and crocuses on Saturday.

Fancy dress and the community out in force (5051942)
Fancy dress and the community out in force (5051942)

The traditional red telephone box was acquired after residents' group, A Better Cliftonville (ABC) secured funding.

The iconic booth was spruced up by volunteers with Cliftonville Glass and John Reeve donating materials to be used as a kiosk housing litter picking equipment and gardening tools.

Olive and Gene Innes try gardening (5051944)
Olive and Gene Innes try gardening (5051944)

Vera Ivanova Smith works with the Dalby Square Children's Club and says the square helps integrate communities.

"It's great for the neighbourhood and we have participated in lots of events here and there will be more to come," she said.

Dalby Square is part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) Grant Scheme which began in January 2013.

Jointly funded by Thanet council and the Heritage Lottery Fund the £2.5million project has helped restore houses in the square and on Arthur Road.

Most recently a former car park at the sea end of the garden was ripped up and replaced with greenery and a feature.

Jenny Cranstone (5051938)
Jenny Cranstone (5051938)

Jenny Cranstone, chairman of the Dalby Square Project, says the garden has brought people together.

"It's has been really good to see people working together and it's very neighbourly. My son has travelled 118 miles to help with the garden!"

Having witnessed many changes over her 17 year tenure as chairman, Mrs Cranstone says she will step down from her role next year. To celebrate her hard work an area of the garden has been named, Cranstone Corner.

The THI scheme is due to be completed in June, 2019.

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