The garden is devoted to peace

The Hidden Garden has been created on a 5,000 square metre site behind the Tramway arts centre in the Pollokshields area of the city.

It opened to the public for the first time on Saturday, kicking off a weekend of events including a festival of light.

Those behind the project hope to reflect the diversity of its neighbourhood by bringing together a combination of local and exotic plants.

Organisers also want local people to get involved in its upkeep and future design.

The area behind the Tramway has been developed over the last year by an independent arts charity, the nva organisation.

The garden opened for the first time on Saturday

More than 30 organisations picked up the tab for the �1.5m project, with volunteers carrying out most of the work on the site.

Angus Farquhar, nva's creative director, said those involved had learned a lot about gardens from different cultures and faiths.

"In the end, to do something that simply makes a sanctuary in the middle of a really really busy environment is just a wonderful thing," he said.

The gardens opened for the first time between 1200 and 1800 BST on Saturday and Sunday, with outdoor music being provided by the Tibetan Singing Bowl Orchestra and Scottish harpist Savourna Stevenson.

A midsummer ceremony of light was being staged on Saturday evening, when 2003 lanterns were being lit in the gardens.

Three other celebrations will be held each year, marking Eid, Diwali and Christmas.