Volunteers donned their gardening gloves and picked up their sheers to help clear a village green yesterday.

Around 16 people took part in the Woodcock Hill Village Green Environmental Project, cutting back brambles and trees stumps in Carrington Avenue, Borehamwood.

Pat Strack, chair of Woodcock Hill Village Green Committee, said: “This was an opportunity to dig up some old roots, because we want to ensure that flowers and plants can grow in the meadows during the summer.

“We also cleared up some rubbish which people have left behind, including bits of broken sledge, beer cans and bottles.”

Elstree and Borehamwood Mayor, Councillor Sandra Parnell and five Elstree and Borehamwood Youth Councillors also lent a helping hand with the project which was purposefully organised before nesting season.

The area attracts a lot of birds including green woodpeckers, blue tits and tawny owls, who should not be disturbed while they are busy making their nests up until June.