LOCAL groups joined forces last month to carry out work to improve garden areas at three retirement housing schemes and several green sites across Torfaen.

Around 1,000 people were helped by the work of the project over four days, which saw 23 volunteers per day take part.

Work was carried out by volunteers from Bron Afon’s Aspire befriending service, Three Churches from Torfaen and young people from Liswerry Baptist Church, Newport, during Ignite Hope Weekendwhichwas held from May 4 toMay 7.

Young people helped to clear, tidy up, and plant flowers in Ivor Gardens, Blaenavon, Sherbourne Court in Pontypool and Brookland House Cwmbran.

Lukasz Kuziow, volunteer coordinator for Aspire, said: “Not only did the project create more attractive living environments for residents at some of Bron Afon’s retirement housing schemes, it also encouraged people to take an active part in improving their health and wellbeing and brought together younger and older people.”

A tenant from Brookland house retirement scheme said: “We would like to congratulate the group of young people fromLlyswerryBaptist Church Newport who volunteered to clear a large garden at our retirement housing.

“They arrived equipped with their garden tools and happy cheerful faces, got to work immediately and in no time at all, the garden was transformed.”