WITH a bit of hard work and elbow grease teachers, pupils and volunteers are set to transform an overgrown woodland area into a conservation area.

For years the two-acre site at Wickham Primary School has been left to its own devices becoming overgrown due to little maintenance.

But at last its potential has been realised and with the help of 24 trainees from HMS Sultan the clear-up operation has begun in earnest. School grounds co-ordinator Karen Finch said: "After just one morning working on the site the improvement was obvious, we hope it will become a very important resource for the school and local community groups but enabling children to have a much greater understanding of the natural world."

Organisers hope the project will be completed over the next two years with plans in the pipeline for a new pond, paths and an outdoor classroom.