SIX weeks ago, the area was an overgrown mess choked with nettles, brambles and other weeds.

But, thanks to the efforts of ten teenagers, a site at the Three Valleys Water Environment Centre in Bushey is now a landscaped study area.

The hard work of the youths, who spent six weeks creating the study space at the Clay Lane centre, was unveiled on Wednesday.

The programme, which involved a group of young people aged from 15 to 18, was co-ordinated by Groundwork Hertfordshire.

The organisation worked with Hertfordshire County Council's children, schools and families department, education support service for children in care and care leavers and the Three Valleys Water environmental education team.

Ben Levinson, from Groundwork Hertfordshire, said the aim of the project was to create a new education space and to help young people gain confidence and learn some new and useful skills. Ben said: "All the teenagers came from very urban backgrounds, so they hadn't done any gardening before. It was a chance for them to learn new skills, and also to get used to working as part of a team and improve their communication."

For full story see Friday's printed version of the Watford Observer.