More than 100 volunteers helped spruce up the Savona and Carey Gardens Estates as part of the US Embassy’s annual Day of Service.

As part of his first official UK engagement, US ambassador Robert Wood Johnson joined Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia to welcome volunteers from across the local community.

Organised by the council, they included representatives from the US Embassy, the council, Savona Residents’ Association, local residents from Savona and Carey Gardens Estate and members of the local business and developer community.

From this, it involved Battersea Power Station Development Company, Barratt London, Tideway, Northern Line Extension, Covent Garden Market Atuhority and Sir Robert McAlpine.

Ambassador Johnson and the team were involved in a range of jobs such as cleaning, litter-picking, repainting and extensive replanting.

Expertise and plants were donated by the London Sustainability Exchange and Willerby Landscapes, the company landscaping the grounds in the new US Embassy building in Nine Elms Lane, and tools were donated by A-Plant.

Taking place for the third consecutive year in Nine Elms, the Day of Service is an annual event to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US in which 3,000 people died.

Ambassador Johnson said: “As we move our new American ground to the Nine Elms neighbourhood, we do so in the spirit of working with the local community.

Councillor Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “I was delighted to welcome Ambassador Johnson and his team from the US Embassy to Nine Elms for this year’s Day of Service.

“The turn out from volunteers was fantastic this year, and was matched by wide representation from across our local community.

“A big thank you to all those involved for their hard work in making a huge difference to the neighbourhood which will be enjoyed by local residents for a long time, and for marking the anniversary of 9/11 in this fitting way.”

One of the areas of focus for the volunteers was the garden at the ROSE Community Centre, which is located inside the Savona Estate.

As part of the day, councillor Govindia unveiled a new outdoor kitchen which was donated by Barratt London.

Sam Sinniah, project director at Barratt London, said: “Projects like this really do foster community spirit and I am delighted that Barratt London has contributed towards such a worthy cause alongside Wandsworth Council and the US Embassy.

“Since we started work at our Nine Elms Point development we have strived to work closely with the local community and leave behind a positive legacy.”