VOLUNTEERS with wellies and spades dug deep to breathe new life into an area for wildlife.

Members of the Low Carbon West Oxford group teamed up with supporters of the Forest of Oxford organisation to plant 50 cherry, alder and rowan trees, and wetland plants at Oxford’s Botley Park wildlife area It is part of a wider plan to create a wetland area, wild flower meadow and woodland at the fringes of the park off Botley Road.

Hugo Crombie, of Oatlands Road, was at the community tree planting session, with his daughter, Frankie, 10, and explained the many benefits of planting trees.

He said: “The trees will absorb carbon as they are growing and help with water as well, because it is an area that’s prone to flooding.

“They are hopefully going to help with the flood conditions and add to the quality of the natural environment, making people appreciate the area more.”

Frankie said: “It was hard work but also interesting.”

Low Carbon West Oxford, which aims to encourage householders to live more sustainably, has also helped plant three copses of willow and fruit trees at nearby Oatlands Park.

The group has planted around 600 trees since it formed following the July 2007 floods.

Project co-ordinator John Thompson, of Forest of Oxford, which helps community groups with environmental projects on public land, said: “The area will ultimately be a wetland wildlife area. hopefully we will also attract otters.

“The recreation ground is a green desert for wildlife, so we are creating areas to benefit wetland species and wildflowers.”

The Trust for Oxford Environment, Wiley Blackwell and the Co-operative have funded to the project.