Clifton College pupils were formally thanked by LinkAge and the Lord Mayor, Councillor Peter Main, this week for a 
project to design and install a garden with the help of residents at Studland Court, a sheltered housing community for elderly people in Henleaze, Bristol.
The project was set up in partnership by Clifton in the Community and LinkAge and was managed by a local volunteer.
Clifton in the Community is a Monday afternoon activity where pupils have a vast choice of organisations and businesses in the local area they can work with.
One group of pupils chose to work with LinkAge and Studland Court residents to upgrade part of their garden, whilst another group encouraged residents to try new arts and crafts activities.
Many benefits were acknowledged by residents and pupils alike: producing a garden to be enjoyed over many years and, for late-comers to art, the joy of painting and drawing. Unexpected pleasures included making new friends, changing perceptions of different age groups, and the fun and fizz of trying something new.
In celebration of this successful collaboration LinkAge, who work incredibly hard to help bring communities together, arranged for this splendid ‘thank you’ event and galvanised volunteers who produced a delicious spread of sandwiches, pastries and cakes.
The Lord Mayor graciously thanked everyone for getting involved; handed out thank-you letters to the pupils; and presented flowers to the hardworking volunteer, before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the new garden. Without question, everyone enjoyed the afternoon where even the sun made an appearance.