A group of teenagers gave up their weekend to help tidy up a garden at a residential home. Eight members of Boxfield Farm Estate Youth Club performed a weekend of hard labour at Blakeney House in Symonds Green, Stevenage, to help give the garden a spring

A group of teenagers gave up their weekend to help tidy up a garden at a residential home.

Eight members of Boxfield Farm Estate Youth Club performed a weekend of hard labour at Blakeney House in Symonds Green, Stevenage, to help give the garden a spring clean.

Flower borders were dug and planted and gravel spread on paths taking the back breaking work away from the elderly residents.

"Some of the heavy gardening work is too difficult for the older residents," said Sharon Wallerson, youth and community development officer for SPH Housing which manages the residential home.

"This is why the kids were helping us out. Gardening is a way for the two generations to come together, share experiences and see what they have in common.

"We think this project is a great chance for the kids and older people to interact and learn from each other as well as doing something beneficial for the future."

One of the weekend helpers said: "It was more interesting than just hanging around. It is nice to help other people and it gives us something to do.