IT WAS a piece of unused land which has now been transformed into a green oasis in the middle of a housing estate.

Teenagers from across Glasgow worked on the grounds of Easthall Park Housing Co- operative accommodation as part of a project by charity Action for Children.

And the Evening Times award -winning Streets Ahead campaign pledged its support to the project.

The 16 youngsters, aged 16 to 18, spent seven weeks tidying up the area, replacing an 80-metre path with stone bricks, creating a decorative feature out of blue-gravel and trees, repainting handrails at the property and planting two bushes to create a gateway effect at one end of the path.

Thomas McFadyen, 16, from Carnwadric, said: "The challenge was hard work but I enjoyed taking part and learning new skills. We worked as a team to make sure we got the job done right and finished in time.

"I am proud of what we achieved and hope the residents are pleased with the improve-ments we've made to the area."

The Inspiring Scotland Easthall Challenge was sponsored by engineering and construction company Balfour Beatty, which supplied stone for the path, while the Lomond Construction Company donated a mini excavator and Beattie Chalmers provided a ground-worker to help the young people lay the pathway.

The young men also took part in a Barclays Money Skills course to improve their financial skills and the Onside Project, a programme run by Young Enterprise Scotland and the Celtic Foundation to help young people make positive choices.

Challenge support officer William McCann said: "The pathway was rundown and overgrown and was probably dangerous in parts because the rain had eroded the path.

"We recreated the pathway with 140 square metres of grey monoblock. The young people learned skills such as screeding, where the material that the bricks sit on is levelled off.

"They also had the opportunity to set the levels of the path because it went over a hill.

"They have learnt these new skills as well as attendance and punctuality and they have put something back into that community.

"That is the ethos of 'Challenge', it is trying to get young people from that comm-unity to put something back."

MORE than 220 young people across Scotland have been involved in the Inspiring Scotland Challenge programme since it launched in April 2009.

Paul Carberry, operational director of children's services at Action for Children Scotland, said: "I'd like to congratulate the young people for all their hard work, commitment and creativity on a demanding Challenge. As well as making a positive difference to the area, the young people have developed skills and gained experience that will stand them in good stead and I wish them all the best.

"We are grateful to the Evening Times for its support and hope we can work together on future Challenges. Streets Ahead is a good fit for our Chall-enge programme; both aim to empower people to make positive changes in their communities.

"By working with both Balfour Beatty and the Evening Times we have been able to improve the area in and around Easthall Park Housing Co-operative for the enjoyment of residents.

THE local community must be thrilled with what the young people have achieved."

Tim Clarke, managing director of Balfour Beatty Construction's Scottish Division, said: "On behalf of Balfour Beatty I am delighted to be sponsoring this important event. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of their efforts."

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk