Steel bunker is made into garden

The former basement at the Ebbw Vale works was used to clean steel rolls

A concrete basement at the site of the former Ebbw Vale steelworks is to be transformed into a "vertical" garden in time for the 2010 National Eisteddfod.

The concept will see the 4m (13ft) deep bunker filled with elevated allotments, seed nurseries, and "green chimneys" using reclaimed steel.

Architects Lianne Russ and Philip Henshaw have been chosen to complete the design.

It followed a competition which attracted entries from across the UK.

This is how the basement garden will look when it opens in 2010 Enlarge Image

The basement, which was once enclosed by a concrete roof slab, is one of nine on the site of the former steelworks, which is now known as The Works.

The whole area is part of a £350m regeneration scheme and will be host to the National Eisteddfod when it comes to Blaenau Gwent in August 2010.

Leighton Andrews, deputy minister for regeneration, said he was pleased to see the garden had been designed with the community in mind.

"I look forward to seeing it take shape over the coming months. It will also be an educational resource for local school children who will be actively involved in its development."

Coun Des Hillman, the leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, added: "The winning basement design is what our regeneration project at The Works is all about - bringing the best skills here to Blaenau Gwent to help transform the legacy of our industrial past.

"Tens of thousands of visitors to the 2010 Eisteddfod will see another example of how we are creating new, green and sustainable projects in our local communities."