SWEAT and spadework is to benefit people who enjoy a stroll in a woodland just outside Worcester.

A team of jobless young people from the Prince’s Trust in Worcester has been busy in Warndon Wood off the A4440 Parsonage Way rebuilding and cutting new pathways.

The 10-strong team are spending two weeks with Worcester City Council’s parks officers while they complete the work.

The 16 to 25 year olds are all students on a personal development programme run through Worcester College of Technology.

Skills learned on the course can then help them in the search for jobs.

As part of the programme, they spend two weeks working to improve quality of life in their community.

Warwick Neale, city council park ranger, said the students’ efforts would be seen by everybody using the woodland over the winter months.

“Having the students here has been great,” he said.

“They have really helped us improve the pathways ready for the winter months, particularly helping with drainage.

“Rain may flood the woodland walkways and restrict walkers from they daily trek in the countryside.”

He said the work would help showcase the woodland as an easily accessible place where residents can get out and about.

Their course will take the students on other voluntary placements, team-building with the city’s emergency services, working with elderly people and community fund-raising.

For more information about the programme, call 01905 424132.