PUPILS at King's Somborne Primary School have been taking part in a community project which aims to enhance and improve hedgerows at the village cemetery.

The children and their parents joined tree wardens and representatives from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to plant a hedgerow as part of an ongoing programme of conservation management.

Susan Simmonds, community conservation officer for wildlife trust, said: "This is an excellent project for the school to get involved in.

"The children have great fun learning all about how important hedgerows are for wildlife.

"They put what they have learnt into practice and in a few years time when the hedges start to grow, the children will be able to see exactly how hedgerows benefit wildlife."

The trust was first approached in 1999 by a group of villagers who wanted to improve the cemetery for wildlife. With the help of funds provided by King's Somborne Parish Council, the trust is now working with members of the community to plant hedges and improve the cemetery.

An application has also been made to Test Valley Borough Council for an environmental enhancement grant.

Hampshire Waste Services has donated a quantity of Pro-grow organic soil conditioner and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers has loaned the school small spades to use during the planting.