CREATIVE students helped spruce up an East Oxford community garden with colourful artwork.

Youngsters from Oxford Spires Academy created a giant mural to decorate a run-down alleyway leading to Barracks Lane Community Garden.

Pumpkins, flowers, snow flakes and autumn leaves now cover the walls guiding visitors to the community garden entrance.

Head of art at Oxford Spires Academy Karen Dix said: “I’m really proud of them.

“I think the work is fantastic and it will make a massive difference.”

Six Year 13 students from the Glanville Road school worked with artist Dionne Freeman to produce nine art panels during a one-day workshop.

Each student was tasked with painting two panels based on weather after garden staff asked them to help improve the alleyway.

Miss Dix said Year 11 students first decorated the alleyway with their artwork in 2010 but it had become “weathered”.

She said: “The alleyway which leads down to the garden is not very inviting because you can’t see the garden from Barracks Lane.

“The artwork sets the scene for what you are going to do or see in the garden.

“It just really does brighten up that first initial impression of the community garden.

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“I think it’s always really good when adults are in charge of something to let it not just be about the adults.

“It’s about the children of the community making a difference.”

Miss Dix said it was important for the youngsters to be involved with community schemes away from the school grounds.

Their artwork at the garden, visited nearly 6,000 times a year, will now contribute towards the community art unit on their course.

She added: “It’s just really good for them to work on a larger scale and in a different way.

“Very often with their art courses, they learn new skills but they don’t necessarily see it going anywhere.

“It was great opportunity for the students to work towards a real life brief.

“It is important that they experience what it is like to work towards the requirements of a real client.

“It gives their work purpose and there is such a sense of pride when they see it taking pride of place and making a difference to their community.”

Year 13 BTEC art and design student Damien Adams, 17, said: “It’s given me great pleasure to see our work on display for everyone in the community.

“It was an amazing experience to work with a real an artist during the workshop.”

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Fellow student Benita Thebe, 19, said: “It was a great opportunity to be able to work with an amazing artist and give something back to our community at the same time.”