Volunteers in Chippenham are celebrating 20 years of restoring and conserving an area of ancient woodland.

The group was set up in 1994 to bring back coppice management at Mortimores Wood, near Pewsham, which had ended 50 years earlier.

Now, the increase in flora and fauna is proof that their hard work has paid off.

Mrs Pinguey, 49, of Pewsham, and her husband, Damian, have been doing voluntary work at the wood, which belongs to the Chippenham Borough Lands charity, for more than ten years.

She said: “Initially the work looked quite destructive as it was necessary to fell a lot of overgrown coppice but now we are seeing signs of regeneration. It lets the sunshine in and keeps the ground flourishing.”

The efforts of the volunteers were recognised by North Wiltshire District Council in 2007 when it granted the woodland Local Nature Reserve status.

Mrs Pinguey said: “Surveys have identified over 70 species of ground plant. There is a fantastic carpet of bluebells every year, and this spring we have found primroses, which are now getting sufficient light to grow. More flowers lead to more insects, and these lead to more birds.”

The group meets on the second Sunday of each month at 10am. Scouts and the Ramblers have also helped to clear material.

The next meeting is on December 14. Call Sandy Corbyn on 01380 727339.