Students will be getting their hands dirty to create a new garden in the heart of their city centre campus.

Part of the Fusehill Street headquarters site of the University of Cumbria near the centre of Carlisle is to be transformed next week.

Members of the University of Cumbria Students' Union (UCSU) will be creating a new student garden.

It is their contribution to National Student Volunteering Week, which runs from Monday until February 26.

UCSU members across the university's campuses are lining up to take part in a series of activities promoting the themes of participation, collaboration and celebration.

Activities include a seminar with Cumbria Voluntary Service, providing opportunities to hear from charities about what they do and how people can help.

Children will also benefit from creative environmental activities with students.

There will also be tree planting taking place around the River Derwent.

UCSU is working with a number of organisations to provide volunteering opportunities for its members.

Kati (CORR) Brown, volunteering facilitator at UCSU, said: "National Student Volunteering Week is an excellent opportunity to promote the great work that our student volunteers do and to give people an opportunity to try volunteering with different organisations.

"Volunteering doesn’t have to be a drain on time or resources, which is why we try to make our project days as accessible as possible to students who wish to take part, regardless of their course or campus location."

Students are awarded with a certificate recording the numbers of hours they have worked. It is signed by the university's vice chancellor and community and partnership officer.

Students are also recognised for their efforts through the student union's annual Success Awards. There is a category for volunteer of the year.

Last year's winner Bethany Cutter (CORR) is a familiar face on campus at fairs and other events.

She said: "It’s great that UCSU is taking part in National Student Volunteering Week. There are lots of benefits to volunteering as a student, and it is great to see students being recognised for their hard work."

* The students' union is looking for charities to contact them to help create new opportunities for its members. Groups in need of volunteers are asked to sign up to the UCSU volunteering platform at www.ucsu.me/volunteering.