Members from a St Albans scout group put their DIY badge skills to the test when they helped a garden charity.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from the 4th St Albans Scout Group along with their leaders built raised beds and cleared planting areas at a community challenge day at the Earthworks’ garden in Hixbury Lane.

Earthworks is a charity that offers people with learning difficulties or mental health issues work experience and training in horticultural and land-based skills.

Annette Payne, assistant beaver scout leader, said: "This has been a fantastic day for us. Our young people have had a lot of fun whilst putting something back into the community.

"Earthworks do so much to make people with learning difficulties feel valued and useful it has been wonderful to assist them to do this work".

James Coleman, a Beaver, was overheard saying: "I enjoyed weeding for the first time - I did all this plot on my own."

While scout, Will Skinner said: "This helps people enjoy wildlife more. I’ve learned how to saw and drill holes".

Bianca Badham from Earthworks said she was very very impressed by the efforts of all the Scouts, Cubs and Beavers that volunteered.

She said: "They have shown excellent community spirit and strong work ethic. The raised beds constructed will enable us to trial a "no dig" system and we will be producing vegetables to sell to a local pub "The Fighting Cocks" that supports our charity."