Youngsters from CedarBridge Academy and Opportunity Workshop were have been honoured for their work with Parks staff in keeping the Arboretum and other areas up to scratch.

The groups worked alongside professional staff in the Aboretum, the Deputy Governor’s residence Montpelier and at the Premier’s official residence Clifton.

Staff at the Arboretum also trained the students in the use of small landscaping tools like trimmers and chainsaws, and taught them how to identify different types of grass and hedging plants.

Parks staff also got a pat on the back for their work with the students and for helping major companies with special events held at the Arboretum, including Tokio Millenium Re’s Tokio Youth Mountain Bike Series, a free race meet designed to get primary schoolchildren on their bikes to promote health and fitness, and the Charis Foundation’s annual charity fundraiser race.

Tokio Millenium’s Zoe Kempe said: “The event is really important for our community and we couldn’t do it without the help of the Parks Department. The grounds are always impeccable.”

Melody Parris, race director for the Charis Foundation, added: “Without Mr Roger Parris, supervisory foreman for the Arboretum, and his crew we would not have been as successful.”

Among the guests at the event were Senator Lynn Woolridge, Parks department director Lisa Dawn Johnson, BIU president Chris Furbert and Ms Antoinette Cannonier, wife of Premier Craig Cannonier.

Ms Cannonier thanked Parks staff for maintaining the grounds at Clifton and for “constantly surprising her” with flowers, a rose garden and fresh vegetables from the grounds.