GREEN-THUMBED students swapped reading for weeding as they launched a community volunteering scheme at a Stanmore school.

Fourteen Winchester University students came equipped with shovels and boots to clear ground for hundreds of tree saplings at Stanmore Primary School.

The team also weeded prime vegetable patches for pupils over two days this month.

Headteacher Justine Brooks said: “The student volunteers have done a fantastic job over the past two days clearing a large area of our grounds to make it easy for our pupils to plant the 420 saplings that have been donated by the Woodland Trust. The children will be outside helping to plant the trees and I am very grateful to the students for their hard work in making this possible”.

The project was the first in a series of monthly Give It a Go initiatives encouraging students who cannot commit to long-term volunteering programmes to try community work on a casual basis.

The scheme is one of 10 volunteer drives organised by community charity Winchester Hubs.

Manager Lucy Walsh said: “I’m constantly amazed by the energy and enthusiasm of students who want to engage with the local community – so many of whom are incredibly motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the local area.”

The charity hopes to dispatch students to care homes and other community organisations in the coming months.