Volunteers across East Devon gave up an ‘invaluable’ 4,500 hours of their time in 2015 to help maintain and preserve the district’s important nature reserves.

The district council’s countryside team said it had been overwhelmed by the commitment and generosity of local volunteers last year.

Councillor Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) portfolio holder for the environment, said: “Volunteers offer a range of skills and experience and are an invaluable resource to the Countryside team.

“Without their work, the East Devon countryside and the abundance of wildlife we enjoy would be very different.”

Most weekends, the information centre at Seaton Wetlands is run by volunteers who provide local knowledge, hot drinks and access to the disabled Tramper vehicle.

And every week, there are two groups who run practical work at various sites including Knapps Copse, near East Hill, Trinity Hill, near Axminster, and Holyford Woods, close to Seaton.

The volunteers assist with a range of tasks including scrub clearance, tree coppicing and hedgelaying in order to promote wildlife conservation.

In addition, there are volunteers who run monthly ‘meet the bird’ sessions, maintain the hides at the Seaton Wetlands and support the countryside team events.

For more information on volunteering opportunities and the EDDC countryside team please contact countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk or call 01395 571707 or visit http://eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside/volunteering/

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