Now their project is in with a chance of winning a national award for volunteering.

Ringway staff gave up their time to transform a disused space at Chestnut Street School in Ruskington to create the garden as part of Give and Gain Day.

The day of action organised by Business in the Community encourages employees to put something back into their community and the organisation put the school in touch with Ringway, who brought in hundreds of pounds worth of resources and manpower. The aim of the new space is to inspire pupils to read and overcome barriers to literacy in calming surroundings.

Ringway business development manager Steve Scawthon said: "Ringway is committed to helping community schemes that improve the lives of local people. Working at Chestnut Street School has been a great project. We are proud to have created an ideal space for the pupils to enhance their reading skills."

Headteacher Christine Breckon said: "Ringway has made our dreams come true. Through their tremendous hard work and total enthusiasm, they have transformed an uncared-for area of our school grounds into an imaginative garden which will be a meeting place for our children and where they can extend their learning in the outdoor environment.

"Our pupils and staff are very grateful to the team for such a superb gift to the school.

"We would not have been able to afford to landscape and grade such a big patch of land. They acquired slabs and bricks left over from other projects to create a wonderful garden."

Staff from Ringway's Lincoln offices then gave up a day finishing off tasks such as painting walls and lines on playgrounds and laying block paving.

A film crew has now been commissioned and came to the school on Monday to make a video to publicise the company's efforts and the project will be entered in the Business in the Community annual volunteering awards for 2010.