An overgrown wasteland land once blighted by fly-tipping and drug taking has been transformed into a thriving nature trail.

After the success of an award-winning food growing area in Parkside Cresent, Isledon Village, Holloway, residents set about creating a nature trail on another disused area of the park which was officially opened last month.

Isledon Parkside now features a small pond, a path through the trees, nesting boxes for birds, habitats for insects and frogs, and woodland flowers to attract butterflies – and the space gets regular visits from local schools and nurseries.

Joe Corkin, chairman of the Isledon Village Community Project which made the transformation, said: “My two girls love visiting and, growing up in such a large city. I think it is really important that they get a sense of the natural world and how things grow.”

The project also had support from organisations including housing association Family Mosaic, as well as grants from the Forestry Commission, Arsenal and Edible Islington.