A COMMUNITY group set up to protect the rural environment in west Oxfordshire is reaching out for more volunteers.

The Wychwood Network is hoping to get more local people involved with the conservation of remaining parts of the former Wychwood Forest. It has lined up a programme of events, including a Midsummer Camp in Cornbury Park, and is holding a party today to mark the launch of its website.

The website will have its own version of the Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia - "Wychpedia" - to provide a mine of information on the history, flora and fauna and other aspects of the life of the forest.

Over the past year, the Network has put together events and lectures. It also won a £8,000 grant from a Government and European-backed programme for community projects. Steering group member Richard Lord said: "We try to bring people together in the name of sustainability and protecting the rural environment. We are very much a positive action group rather than a protest group.

"Nearly all the work involved in running the Network is carried out by a handful of people. The idea is to involve a lot of people, all doing a little."

Among events coming up is a Wychwood Gardeners' Question Time with Roddy Llewellyn, on Wednesday, March 12, and a public forum, What is the Countryside for?, on April 17, both at Ramsden village hall.

The new website is at wychwoodnetwork.org.uk, or call 01993 868210 for information.