Green-fingered teens give Stubbington school garden a fresh look

Military Mentors at Crofton Anne Dale School with Year 1 and Year 2 pupils with Lorraine Phillips, executive head teacher in the middle and site manager, Dave Mann at the front Picture: Habibur Rahman (161516-69)

The group of 22 from Military Mentors, a teaching programme based in Gosport, spent two days tackling the vast undergrowth of the garden at Crofton Anne Dale Junior and Infant Schools in Cuckoo Lane, Stubbington.

It was part of the programme’s involvement in the National Citizen Service (NCS) – a government-run scheme set up to provide young people with new skills.

Tony West, who runs the programme, oversaw the work last Tuesday and Wednesday.

He said: ‘We were looking for a project for the group to really get their hands stuck in and this was such a rewarding task.

‘The schools did not have the time or anyone else to be able to sort out so we stepped in and they were more than happy for us to help out.’

The teenagers, aged between 16 to 18, were split into two groups as they moved foliage, cut down trees and spruced the area up.

Tony added: ‘It was proper hard work but the response we got from the school and the pupils was fantastic.

‘They seemed very much over the moon by the end result.

‘I think that the project was hugely successful in the end.’

Ben Hudson, 17, from Gosport got stuck into the project.

He said: ‘We were looking to try and make it look like an open area and now it looks a lot nicer.

‘I think it was a really worthwhile job for us despite the ache in my shoulders after all the hard work.

‘You can really tell the difference and it looks phenomenally different.

‘It makes it better when you then see the looks on the faces of the school pupils.’

Shannon Summers, 17, from Lee-on-the-Solent, added: ‘I think we all found the project really enjoyable.

‘We had some good laughs along the way and by the time it was finished, we felt really happy about its finished look.

‘You get a great sense of accomplishment from doing something like this.’

She added: ‘Over the course of the project we seemed to bond really well and that helps when your getting your hands dirty in the ground.’

Tony added: ‘We’re chuffed to bits with it and hope the school and the pupils will be able to enjoy it for a long time.’

Head to militarymentors.co.uk to hear more about the programme.