Members of the supporters group, from left, Clive Thomas, Jennifer Chaundy, Penny Coles and Isabel Buckingham at Smallbrook Meadows (30548)ENDANGERED species of animals living in a wildlife reserve got a boost this week from a government grant.

Water voles, kingfishers and heron all live in Smallbrook Meadows, near Warminster.

The wetlands, which lie alongside the rivers Wylye and Were, received £15,000 from the government's Living Spaces scheme, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Its aim is to help local people improve their environment.

Heather Vine, is co-chairman of the Warminster branch of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

She said: "The money is being used to make people more aware of the reserve.

"It is very central to Warminster, just next to the park, but people still don't really know it is there.

"We are improving the gates and the signs to make accessibility better. It is a lovely place, really beautiful and totally natural. The town park is very manicured, but the meadow is wilder and that is the beauty of it.

"People should know more about it because we are really lucky to have it so close to the town centre.

"As well as being very beautiful there is all sorts of wildlife there and some wonderful wild flowers."

A programme of hedge restoration will see the planting of hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn and field maple to improve the boundaries between the different fields.

The natural pond will be re-excavated and have a new fence to protect it from cattle and the public.

Isabel Buckingham, also co- chairman of the Warminster supporters group, said she was excited about the grant and the work it will enable them to do.

"We plan to erect new signs to identify the new land as part of the reserve, re-establish the original hedge lines, and new fencing, gates and water supply infrastructure to enable the effective controlled grazing of the reserve," she said.

Smallbrook Meadows is a mosaic of wet meadows, ponds and woodland.

Wetlands in Britain are on the decline and are particularly rare in Wiltshire.

Smallbrook was purchased in the 1970s by West Wiltshire District Council, which leases the meadows to the trust. The funds will help integrate the eight hectares of meadow land on the slopes which were added to the lease in 2003. The reserve is maintained by the efforts of the Warminster group.

They are looking for new volunteers, for more information contact Clive Thomas on (01985) 216586.