York's Memorial Gardens will pay homage to one of the city's most famous horticultural sons as part of a scheme to improve and update the area.

The gardens will undergo a makeover thanks to a public-private partnership between City of York Council and Hunter Estate Agents. It is the first scheme to come from the council's new Business Pride initiative, which aims to involve businesses in radically improving the city's environment at street level.

The re-vamped flower beds will include the historic 'Russell Lupin' flower, in recognition of the work of York resident the late George Russell, who began developing the plant in 1911.

In a unique twist, the keeper of the national collection of Russell lupins has agreed to re-name one of the deep yellow plants she grows from George Russell's original Lupins as 'York Pride' to mark the city's connection with Russell.

David Finnegan, director of Commercial Services, City of York Council, said: "York Pride is a major council initiative to create real improvements in the appearance of the city and we are delighted that progeny of the original City of York strain will be named after it. George Russell was an important York resident and it is fitting that we can commemorate his work in this way.

"The Memorial Gardens are an important resource for residents and tourists and the improvement work will preserve and enhance them." The work will be carried out by volunteers on the PACY project, which uses community-based work to rehabilitate ex-offenders, reforming or former addicts and the homeless, and Commercial Services Street Scene staff . The PACY project is a partnership between York Arclight Project, City of York Council and York Association for the Care and Reform of Offenders.