ECO-minded villagers in Sherston have been getting their hands dirty and their boots wet in an ongoing project to help restore a nature-rich beauty spot.

Sherston people have been working throughout the year with Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) to revamp a section of Luckington Brook, close to the village.

The river supports small population of fish such as brown trout and bullhead.

However, over-widening of the waterway has led to low flows, particularly during summer, which are insufficient to deal with sediment deposited after storms.

This has seen the riverbed gravels being smothered, creating conditions unfavourable to invertebrates and spawning trout.

The SHRIMP (SHerston River IMProvement) Project has also involved wildflower planting, riverside path clearance and woodland coppicing, thanks to funding grants from Wessex Water, People’s Postcode Trust, Cotswolds Visitor Giving Fund and local community donations.

Harriet Alvis, project officer at Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, said: “This has been a fantastic example of how local residents can take community ownership to improve their rivers for the benefit of people and wildlife.

“We are grateful to everyone who has come out to help on our volunteer days. Whilst out on the river we were lucky enough to spot trout, stickleback, herons, egrets, grey wagtails, a kingfisher, buzzards and a hobby.

“Great signs - and hopefully populations that will continue to flourish as a result of our works.”

BART also has longer term plans to extend the work along the river, including running habitat enhancement workshops to teach people how to restore their own stretches of the waterway.

BLOB BART will be hosting an evening of free talks in Sherston Village Hall on Thursday, November 12 at 7.30pm where local otter enthusiast Tony House will be discussing wildlife in the area and the audience will get the chance to discuss any improvements they would like to see with their river environments into the future.