The Little Forest Project in Outwoods has been given a helping hand by a group of teenagers from Burton and South Derbyshire who wanted to make a difference in the community.
The group needed a 'project' as part of their National Citizen Service and decided to volunteer to help the Little Forest Project by taking on the task of essential jobs to update the area.
The project, which was launched in March this year, gives pupils at the schools in the area the chance to learn more about the outdoors.
Lawrence Oates, chairman of the Little Forest Project said: "On behalf of the Little Forest committee I would like to thank the team who have spend a week working with me, helping to establish a new outdoor teaching area in Outwoods.
"Paths were set out and surfaced with bark mulch, an area cleared and a pit dug for a composting toilet, along with a number of other important tasts.
"I am a long-time believer in the importance of outdoor education and this will allow the project to take a big step forward to creating a vital new learning resource that will be open to all ages and abilities."
The group, led by Elys Brooks and Matt Tantrum, raised the money to update the forest through bake sales and sponsored walks. While working at the forest, they created paths, raised crowns on some trees, dig the hole for the compost toilet and many other essential jobs.
John Anderson, chairman of Outwoods Parish Council, said: "It was a great pleasure to work with the young people from National Citizen Service. They have made a valuable contribution to the project and have taken great pride in putting it into practice.
"Some of the youngsters will be joining de Ferrers sixth form and since the de Ferrers Trust has taken on the lease for the forest it will be good for them to continue their involvement by joining the Little Forest Committee.
"I personally cannot wait to see the first school trip take place to the Little Forest."
What is the National Citizen Service?
The National Citizen Service, which has been set up by the government, is open to all 16 and 17-year-olds in England.
Schemes run in the spring, summer and autumn, bringing together young people from different backgrounds. It encourages personal and social development teaching teens important life skills.
Participants are expected to create and develop a social action project to deal with a local issue they are passionate about and spend 30 hours putting the project into action within their community.
More than 275,000 young people have already taken part in the scheme, since it was launched in 2011.
