Accrington Academy has teamed up with the Laneside Residents Association to give a makeover to a local community garden.

Students from years seven and eight swapped their laptops and smart phones for shovels and spades as they helped transform Dyke Nook Gardens, working with members of the association to breathe new life into the area.

Under the watchful eye of teaching assistant Ben Mears and Malcolm and Jean Sommerville from the association, the young gardeners gave up their own time as part of their extra-curricular activities to help build new planters to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits, for the use of local residents to come and pick as they need.

Academy pupils getting stuck in

The students also created a fruity hedgerow and willow fence to cover up the old railings at the site. The academy’s art department also produced a new poppy mural, made sculptures from pottery and painted the raised flower beds to inject more colour.

Mr Mears said it was ‘fantastic’ for the students to be in the community making a ‘real difference’.

If you have a project they can help with call Tracy Eccles on 01254 304300 ext 333.