Mystery surrounds identity of '˜guerrilla gardener' planting vegetables in Northampton street

An unknown gardner is planting vegetables and flowers in soil around the trees in a Northampton street

Debbie Sue, who lives in Stimpson Avenue in Abington, said nobody living in the street knew the identity of the mysterious gardener who was cultivating the small plots.

Ms Sue said the vegetables being grown included tomatoes, runner beans, beetroot and chard as well as flowers such as honeysuckles.

She said: “it all started about a year ago. It is only on the five sites at the top of the street.

Cherry tomatoes are being grown in the soil around the trees in Stimpson Avenue, Northampton

“Nobody knows who is doing it as no-one has ever been seen doing the gardening. But it is lovely.

“I saw a small girl walk past the other day and she picked off one of the cherry tomatoes and ate it. I think people appreciate it.”

One motivation for the mystery gardener may be Richard Reynolds, who has set up Guerillagardening.org, which chronicled his efforts to cultivate parts of a council estate in London.

Mr Reynolds says his blog is a “growing arsenal for anyone interested in the war against neglect and scarcity of public place as a space to grow things.”