Historic Speke Hall receives help from Halton students (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Riverside College volunteers clear the grounds of Speke Hall

1:20pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

VOLUNTEERS are starting the New Year with a new challenge.

Eight Riverside College students have been given the task of improving the grounds of Speke Hall.

They will do general maintenance, chop down trees and build bonfires.

In the summer, they plan to create their own vegetable garden.

Ian Ford from the National Trust is hoping the students will come up with some more ideas to develop the estate.

The students are on a Get Up and Go English and Maths course and First Steps to Psychology, Sociology and Criminology.

Riverside College tutor Chelsea Murdoch said: “It is great to see the students able to take the basic skills they are learning in the classroom into a practical environment.

“They have all enjoyed the project so far.

“We have been able to cook potatoes on a bonfire the students built.

“The Get Up and Go and First Step courses are fantastic for increasing the confidence or work or just wanting to improve their lifestyle and these practical skills are great for the students to add to their CV.”