VOLUNTEERS were joined by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds as they made their way to Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve to do their share of conservation work.

Community First organised the event in partnership with SiGNAL and the Deadwater Valley Trust, and were joined by representatives from Woolmer Forest Timebank, Edwards Insurance Brokers, Douglas Law, Bex Airbrushing and PAW Design. They worked for around three hours last Friday morning, clearing growths of rhododendron and bamboo.

Mr Hinds said it was “lovely” to be away from parliament and added: “I think what these people are doing is brilliant. It’s great obviously for the practical work that’s being done here in the Deadwater Valley, but it’s also just great to get people together.”

Janet Duggan, Community First’s business and volunteering engagement manager, said: “It’s brilliant to see people from all different sections of the community coming together to do volunteering.”