Offenders working on a Community Payback project in York have been praised for their work to help the city in the Yorkshire in bloom awards after planting thousands of crocus bulbs.

Foxwood Residents Association recently requested the help of HLNY CRC to carry out a Community Payback project in the area.

Offenders, spent many hours planting more than 55,000 crocus bulbs as well as daffodils which were donated by a local family in memory of their son. The crocus bulbs were provided by Rotary International.

Susan Galloway, Secretary of the Foxwood Residents Association, said: “Those working on this project will see the fruits of their labours in the spring and the project will count towards Yorkshire in Bloom 2018 which we are entering.”

Community Payback in York is managed by HLNY CRC in partnership with several organisations including City of York Council, and aims to rehabilitate offenders through working on projects that benefit the community.

Mrs Galloway said: “The team was polite and willing and I am amazed that they find themselves having to do this work. However, we are grateful to them and wish them the very best for the future and hope that they will be proud of helping the community in which they live.”

“The team was polite and willing and I am amazed that they find themselves having to do this work. However, we are grateful to them and wish them the very best for the future and hope that they will be proud of helping the community in which they live”

Chris Long, placement coordinator at HLNY CRC, said: “Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law but it is also a way for those on probation to learn new skills and to support their rehabilitation. In this project, they will be able to reflect on the work they have done in the community each spring for years to come.”

The Community Payback scheme works across a wide range of projects in the community in North Yorkshire renovating community gardens, parks, church yards and schools.

The Community Payback Team at HLNY CRC would like to hear about other projects which residents think will make a real difference to their community. You can nominate project here