GREEN-fingered villagers helped tidy up riverbanks near Winchester last week.

Members of the Worthys Conservation Group were at St Swithun’s Church, Headbourne Worthy, on Saturday to do river restoration work around the grounds.

Fourteen volunteers cleared away overhanging branches and dead wood and planted 50 metres worth of faggots to enable planting in May.

Bruce Graham, who runs the group, said: “Everything went very well. This is a small scale project but it still promotes education and benefits people who like to walk through here.

“We also want people to visit the church and see for themselves what a great natural haven this is with its wildlife and flora.”

Mr Graham, 53, of Gillingham Close, Kings Worthy, added the group want to put up an information board but that it would cost hundreds of pounds.

The group has been going since 2004 and currently has around 12 members but Mr Graham said it would welcome any new volunteers, particularly younger members in their 30s or 40s.

Anyone interested in joining or making a donation to the group should contact Mr Graham on 07919 111221 or visit worthysconservationvolunteers.org.uk.