Students get stuck in at Coughton Court (From Redditch Advertiser)

Students get stuck in at Coughton Court

8:40am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Local

STUDENTS from NEW College in Redditch, rolled up their sleeves, to get stuck into voluntary work at Coughton Court during their first week back after the summer break.

28 of the Level 3 Uniformed Public Service students,spent two days working on various projects at the National Trust property.

Students laid a bark-chip path in woodland on Coughton’s Court’s grounds, cleared a small brook, which had become blocked with debris and overgrown vegetation, and cleared branches from the canopy of trees at the front of the house, sawing off some of the lower branches.

Work placement co-ordinator Tracey Scrafton, and tutor Ian Berry, arranged the work experience.

Ms Scrafton said: “The students enjoyed the day so much that the majority have decided to go back in the next couple of weeks to help clear the brook further. Several years ago the house and grounds flooded causing great damage; the work to increase the flow of water through the grounds and bypassing the house will have a lasting positive impact on the whole property.”

Mr Berry added: “Students worked as a team with National Trust staff, they showed great energy, commitment and a positive attitude to some of these tasks that were often mundane and dirty. The individual and collective qualities shown will stand them in good stead for their chosen careers.”