VOLUNTEERS of all ages helped to sow wildflower seeds on a former landfill site - the first community event held by the Headley Down Nature Reserve Trust.

A wide swathe of land, beside the main path in Larch Road, had been cleared of old landfill rubbish and raked over ready for sowing with a variety of native species flowers and grasses.

The area was marked out, on September 30, to help the volunteers scatter their pots of seeds mixed with sand as evenly as possible and children were shown how to plant spring bulbs beneath a new hedge.

It seems a long time to wait to see the results of the hard work, but in the spring and summer next year, people and wildlife will all be able to enjoy the improvement.

The Nature Reserve Trust, celebrating its first birthday since becoming a registered charity, was presented with a cheque by staff from the One Stop store, in Larch Road, who attended the Bring Back the Wildflowers volunteering day.

Housing provider Radian, which looks after some of the housing on the adjacent Heatherlands Estate, also contributed towards the cost.

Olivia Carr, a community-development officer for Eastleigh-based Radian, was at the event. She said: “All the work being done has made a noticeable improvement already in the amount of fly-tipping and littering. It would be fantastic to see the nature reserve supported with further funding to help complete it.”

Representatives from funding bodies which have helped other projects already completed in this first year, were also on hand to help, including Hampshire county councillor Floss Mitchell, Headley parish councillor Anthony Williams, staff from Tesco in Bordon and members of the Woolmer Forest Lions.

The volunteers saw a preview of new entrance signs, funded by East Hampshire District councillors, and one of three new illustrated interpretation boards, showing species of wildlife likely to be spotted on the reserve.

The installation of the signs will be next on the list for the trustees, followed by the creation of more paths and an area for children.

Woodlands Hall’s Little Treasures pre-school will be holding events to raise funds for a storytelling chair and seating so that the children can spend time at the nature reserve and learn about wildlife.

One Stop staff said they would continue to support the nature reserve with collection boxes by the tills and cake sales.