Melksham Volunteers Needed for Conigre Mead Saturday 21st

Saturday 21st January brings the start of the Big Lottery-funded project at Conigre Mead nature reserve in Melksham and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is seeking volunteers to help get the work underway from 10am onwards.

Volunteers will be helping to restore a footbridge, replace paths, put up new notice boards and replace gates. The work will be administered through the charity Groundwork and its Changing Places, Changing Lives programme.

Dr Ian Cardy, chair of the Conigre Mead Volunteers Group says: "We hope to restore the bridge that spans two ponds to its former glory by replacing the decking and we will be erecting new notice boards so that we can keep people up to date with what we are doing. We also need to remove the old gates and fences to make way for new ones. These will provide easier access for people pushing buggies or in a wheelchairs or motorised scooters.

He adds: "Local people will know that this area floods at certain times of the year, leaving paths in a poor state. A final part of this project will be to replace the existing gravel paths with a resin-bound surface that will not be washed away.

"So there is plenty to do on the day," says Ian. "Come along and help us change this place for the better. No experience is necessary and we supply all tools and materials. You can join us for the whole day or for part of the day. Wear old clothes and stout shoes and bring a packed lunch. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied."