A COMMUNITY has helped to create a trail of beauty spots by creating several themed gardens.

The Heath's Marian Trail is a near three-mile route around the Thatto Heath area created by various schools, churches and organisations.

The walk is intended as a pilgrimage celebrating Mary and honours the women who do so much for people's lives.

There will be nine gardens in total on the route including St Austin's primary, St John Vianney primary, Nutgrove Primary School and Thatto Heath Primary School.

Other locations are Nutgrove Methodist Church, Balmer Street Methodist Church, PERTH Community Centre and St Austin's Presbytery Garden.

There is also a Steve Prescott Foundation garden under construction on the route which includes Elephant Lane, Nutgrove Hall Drive and Elton Head Road along its route.

With the help of Rainford artist Bernadette Hughes and primary schoolchildren a mosaic has been built in each garden and plants have been placed.

"Each one has a different theme about Mary and women who care for us," said Kevin Duffy, 52, a deacon at Corpus Christi who has been involved with the project.

"They have created an image for each and the response has been extremely good. The schools have all engaged with it and we have done 20 workshops in the area and the groups all picked the plants they wanted."

The children have made a pilgrimage around the route and it was officially opened by new mayor Cllr Stephen Glover at a ceremony on Sunday, May 24.