THE Skaigh Wood Trust are partially restoring an old pond on the south side of the River Taw this weekend, and are looking for volunteers to help.

The pond was originally built as part of the Skaigh House estate in the Victorian era, but has become overgrown with vegetation. The pond is in Skaigh Woods, and can be easily found if you take the footpath from the Finch Foundry car park that follows the river. The route will be signposted on the day.

The aim is to clear the pond of vegetation, and investigate its base and any pipework remaining from the original build. Once the vegetation is cleared, the pond can be reinstated as a shallow fresh water habitat.

The restoration day runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday July 2. Members of Sticklepath and Belstone communities are warmly invited to help with the restoration, as are those in the wider area.

The work will be co-ordinated by Dartmoor National Park Ranger Ian Brooker, with assistance from Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation Group volunteers.

Ian said: 'The event is a community event, and it's also part of some events we're running to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the National Park.

'Although it's an event for the local communities of Belstone and Sticklepath, anyone from Okehampton and nearby communities are welcome to come and help. People can turn up whenever in the day, they don't have to be here bang on ten o'clock!

'And they can stay for as long as they like, be it half an hour, or all day. The more the merrier!

If you would like to help out, bring a spade, working gloves, old clothes and wellies. If you intend to stay for several hours, please bring your own lunch and drinks.

For more information call Ian Brooker on 07720 509273.