Students from Helston, Mullion and Penryn have transformed an old greenhouse into a barn as part of their studies.

The new barn, based on the Helston Community College farm, will be used in their studies regarding animal care and horticulture.

The greenhouse had deteriorated to the point where it was of no practical use. However, the enterprising students could see the potential of the site, with the possibility of salvaging parts of the old greenhouse to cut costs.

The framework was in fairly good shape, so plans were drawn up and work started in excavating and clearing the site, as the main problem was difficulty of access. This meant that everything had to be cleared by hand.

A new floor slab was shuttered up and six cubic metres of concrete were mixed by hand, while the college’s post 16 students built the walls.

Year ten students then set about creating and installing the roof on work experience week.

To make the project sustainable, second hand timber from the bus park fencing, together with fixtures and fittings from the old day nursery, were all brought in to help minimise the total cost.

The project was supervised by Nigel Philpott, head of construction studies at Helston, together with Nigel Eathorne and Dave Cummings.

Dr Pat McGovern, headteacher at Helston, praised the hard work by all the students who had taken part, adding he was impressed with the high standard of the work produced.

He congratulated all who had taken part, before cutting the tape in traditional style and declaring the barn well and truly opened.