Sixteen foreign students, along with four from Tonbridge, have volunteered in a range activities at a Kent country park.

The multinational group of young people were visiting Tonbridge for a week-long exchange trip hosted by the Rotary Club.

The volunteers known as Croisière (cross-over), were all students from Rotary clubs in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany and took part in the activities at Haysden Country Park on Tuesday, July 22.

Each club selected four students to be sent to England in an attempt to increase understanding between young people from different countries enabling them to appreciate the language and culture.

The exchange programme organised by Tonbridge Rotary Club, takes place every year with a different country hosting each time. Tonbridge last played host in 2009.

Peter Conetta of club said: “This is the 34 year of Croisière exchange and a great experience for the young people involved, giving them the opportunity to meet new people from other countries and become involved in their community by volunteering and taking part in a variety of activities.”

During their afternoon, supervised by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, the volunteers helped with conservation tasks including building bug boxes for insects to nest in at the park and the long-term project to remove the invasive non-native plant Himalayan Balsam.

Cllr Maria Heslop, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure, youth & arts said: “It is great to see an enthusiastic group of young people volunteering in the park and I do hope they enjoyed the afternoon."