Communal clean ups have transformed dull gardens into flower filled havens after 300 housing staff were tasked with helping the community.

Around 20 estates and sheltered blocks were visited by Ascham Homes staff, last week, as they swapped their desks for dusters and brushes.

Under the Ascham Connects initiative staff got stuck in to help residents by either decorating and gardening or visiting hostels and shelters.

Plaxton Court in Leytonstone, Boothby Court in Chingford and Pelly Court in Walthamstow had their gardens spruced up for summer.

Staff got their hands dirty clearing weeds and trimming shrubs, installing raised flower beds, treating and repainting benches and decorating garden walls.

Resident Jerri McGee who helped out at Plaxton Court, said: “Residents are so grateful and this gives us an incentive to maintain and enjoy this space. I’ve planted flowers and it’s nice to see everyone giving the garden the finishing touch.”

Stephen Stringer from Pelly Court said: “It’s been really fantastic having Ascham staff coming in and doing this as maintaining the gardens can be a real struggle for some of the less able residents.”

Residents were able to talk to the staff about their life in sheltered housing and how it could be improved.

Helen Harris, Ascham Homes Income Officer, who served residents coffee at Boothby Court said: “Although I deal with sheltered housing in my job I have never actually visited one of the schemes before, so it was really interesting to go and see the accommodation, meet and chat to residents.”

Neal Allison, from partner’s Osborne who assisted with the gardening work and spruce ups said: “It was inspiring to see how residents have already started making improvements to their garden themselves.

“I’m glad that the Ascham Homes and Osborne teams could give them a little more help and support.”

The future of Ascham Homes will be decided on Tuesday at a council cabinet meeting after it was recommended housing management goes back in house.