A HAMPSHIRE charity is calling on people with a taste for the great outdoors.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers to learn more about traditional countryside skills such as fencing and hedge-laying and to help look after livestock as part of a new scheme.

The Winchester Conservation Skill Project, a Heritage Lottery funded programme, aims to recruit volunteers giving them the chance to learn new skills, including plant and animal identification, ecological surveying techniques and first aid.

Anyone over the age of 18 can take part every Thursday and will be held at both Winnall Moors, St Catherine’s Hill and Broughton Down.

The work to be undertaken includes maintaining habitats such as water meadows and chalk grassland.

Taster sessions will be on offer February 20 and 27. Contact Alex Hogg on 07867 330669 or email on alex.hogg@ hiwwt.org.uk or Rachel Remnant on 07786 777498.