Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to join a new group helping to manage three of the trust’s nature reserves.

This new central volunteer group will focus on Penn Wood, Calne; Morgan’s Hill between Devizes and Calne, and Roundway Orchard in Devizes.

“The volunteers will be able to see a variety of wildlife, better understand how we manage different habitats and learn a range of new skills – including winter pruning of fruit trees,” said reserves manager Neil Pullen.

There will be at least one activity a month on at least one of these sites.

The first task will be at Penn Wood, a newly created nature reserve on land leased to the Trust by The Hills Group, where a pond needs some willow trees thinned to allow light and life into it.

At the end of the day there will be sausages cooked on a fire.

Other activities will include creating habitat for animals like slow worms and lizards.

“Volunteer wardens, who know the sites really well, will join us,” said Mr Pullen.

Thanks to financial assistance from The Hills Group, the trust will provide all tools, equipment, first aid and insurance cover, gloves and helmets.

People are asked to wear old clothes and stout boots, and to bring a packed lunch and drink.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves are dependent on the hard work of volunteers for much of their maintenance.

The start date is January 17 and most of the volunteer days will be from 10am-3pm.

To find out more, contact Neil Pullen at neilp@wiltshirewildlife.org or on 01380 725670 Ext 258