WITH unsightly overgrown grass and sprawling trees, a patch of land between the Applegrove Learning Centre and The Orchard Centre in Inverness was more reminiscent of a jungle than a garden.
But thanks to the efforts of a team of 12 people on court community service orders, the area of wasteland within the grounds of Drummond School has been dramatically transformed.
Staff at the Applegrove Learning Centre, which works with children outwith mainstream education, tried to clear the piece of land last year but realised the job was just too big for them, choosing instead to contact the community service team, who run the community payback service, for help.
Astonished by the makeover, Elaine James, teacher co-ordinator at the Applegrove Learning Centre, praised the tireless work of the team, who completed the project under supervision during hours the pupils were not at the centre.
"The children now call it the secret garden," enthused Mrs James. "We are really proud of what they are doing."
The garden, which now has a stone path, fence and disabled access as well as two wooden planters for flowers, will be used for outdoor lessons by children at the centre.
"We will use it all the time for science projects, literacy and numeracy skills," said Mrs James.
"It’s such a drastic change."
Among those taking part in the community service scheme were John Robertson (23), of Nairn, and 17-year-old Stacey Duggan, of Cullicudden, who both described the experience of helping others as rewarding.
"I think it’s great for their self esteem," Mrs James continued. "We even gave them a certificate."
The garden will also be used by The Orchard Centre, which provides respite care for children and teenagers with learning disabilities, and a summer house has been ordered for the site in time for the new school term.
The work involved three teams of community service workers, aged from 16 to 40, working over three days alongside community service supervisors.
Standing in the new garden and reflecting on the state it was in beforehand, community service supervisor Jim Stewart explained helping projects like Applegrove’s were exactly what the community payback scheme was all about.
"The idea is that it helps the community and also helps those who take part in the project," said Mr Stewart. "It teaches them how to work with tools safely and it instils a spark in them and may encourage them to take it up as a job."
As well as doing a lot of hard labour on site, the community service workers, who worked one day a week from 8.30am until 4pm, also made wooden planter boxes and gates at a workshop in Culduthel Road.
"We have helped a few get jobs," Mr Stewart continued. "Just to be able to get a job is a big benefit to these kids. One of them recently got a start in a cafe. We also help them to fill in their application forms as a lot of the kids don’t have the support."
Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon believes the project shows that community service can work.
"There has been many criticisms of community service over the years and this is an example of community service at its best, where there is a benefit to the community and benefit to the individuals," said the Conservative politician.
"I hope that there will be many more positive public projects such as this in the future."
She added: "It’s important that they feel the value and contribution that they have made."
The project at the Applegrove Learning
Centre is just one to benefit from the help of offenders.
Earlier this year, 70 people on community service orders worked at the Sadie Duncan Memorial Trust for Animal and Bird Rescue near Cromarty, repairing fencing, mending chicken coops and building stables.
Owner Winona Wall was facing the prospect of putting down her beloved horses because she was exhausted with single-handedly looking after more than 20 rescued or injured horses, 12 dogs, 11 cats and assorted ducks and chickens at the rescue centre, set up in memory of her late mum.
She asked for help from the community payback scheme and afterwards praised the offenders, who she said had stopped the charity going under.
"What they did was nothing short of a miracle," she said.
Other recent projects include a beach clear-up at Alturlie and creating an eco-garden for Beauly Primary School.
Teams have also worked with Scottish National Heritage to clear a man made hill at Cantray Doune, planted gardens for the elderly throughout the Inverness area and worked to clear snow and ice during the winter months.
Another big project in the pipeline could be transforming wasteland at the Multiple Sclerosis Centre in Inverness into a garden, if planning permission is granted.
