THE search is on for volunteers who are ready to pull on their waders and get muddy in a good cause.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust has teamed up with Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust for a new project, entitled Pooling Together – Reviving the Wetland Landscape.

The aim is to restore 19 ponds on Bromyard Downs, the National Trust’s Brockhampton Estate and Bringsty Common.

The trusts are now looking for volunteers to get involved. Whether you fancy getting stuck into practical management or want to survey the pond life, there's a task to suit everyone.

Project manager Jane Cabara said: “This project is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn new skills or gain experience in wildlife conservation as we will be running free training workshops on pond survey techniques and practical conservation methods.”

Work begins this autumn, with neglected ponds being de-silted, while ponds which have been lost over time will be dug out and re-filled. The work will benefit wildlife such as great crested newts which need to move between pools to find food and mates.

The project aims to restore all the ponds to top condition, then create work groups that can undertake the yearly management tasks.

The ponds are a key part of the landscape’s social history. Ponds were once common on farms as well as beside roads and drovers' tracks for watering livestock.

The project will also work with local schools and community groups, with pond-dipping equipment available for them to use.

A pond-dipping platform and education shelter at the Grove Pool on the Brockhampton Estate will also be built as a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Alan McLaren from Brockhampton School said: "The children and staff will get so much from visiting the pond. At Brockhampton, we try to do as much learning outside the classroom as possible and having the pond so close will only enhance our school's outdoor experiences."

Funding for the project has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, BIFFA and Welcome to Our Future.now

To find out more, contact 01432 356872 or j.cabara@herefordshirewt.co.uk.