Young offenders help to clear site at arboretum (From Gazette & Herald)

Young offenders help to clear site at Castle Howard Arboretum

8:30am Thursday 1st November 2012 in News

A TEAM of young offenders helped clear a patch of overgrown land at the Castle Howard Arboretum this week.

Iain Walker, from the North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service, supervised the youths, who had been sent to the site from Selby, York, Harrogate, Scarborough and Thirsk.

Iain said: “We couldn’t do such a big job on our own. We were clearing willow which had gotten out of hand and started to swamp other trees so we cut that back. We had 11 young people out there so it was quite a good show, and we hope to go back and do some more as soon as we can arrange it.

“Not only are they putting back into the community and the charity for their misdemeanours, but they are learning new skills, such as learning how to work together as a team and tool safety, and preparing them for work.”