WILDLIFE has suffered because pandemic restrictions have stopped volunteer wardens running their regular litter picking sessions at the Rivermead nature reserve.

Gordon Shaw discovered a wood mouse stuck in a beer bottle when he and other group members went to clean up the site. The tiny creature had died because it was unable to crawl out.

Now the volunteers are urging visitors to take their rubbish home with them.

Gordon from Rodbourne said: “With the pandemic, we have been unable to fit in any litter picks until quite recently. The river floods quite readily and it’s a worry in the reserve.

“Litter has increased so there is a variety of everything, tin cans and bottles, it’s disconcerting. We have even had sofas and trollies. It’s quite a lot of work but it’s worth it.”

The area is owned by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and managed by Swindon Borough Council.

With restrictions easing, the group wants to get the community involved so people are more aware of of the danger to wildlife.

“It’s pretty lethal and people don’t realize the impact of leaving a bottle,” said Gordon. “It’s virtually impossible for the animal to get out again and it actually starves or it gets so stressed in there. They can actually cut their feet on entering too.

“The fact that the poor little thing can’t get out so it gets trapped and then starves itself or drowns is horrible. Wildlife is fragile and I don’t think the public realises the impact littering can have on it."

The group, which is restricted to six members, picked up 25 bags worth of rubbish in its session after lockdown eased.

“We’re lucky in Swindon to have the green spaces and the local people value it for walking dogs,”he added.

Because hedges haven't been maintained during the lockdowns people have forced their way into an area near the river that is off limits to the public. There they have pulled down branches and made dens.

Gordon applauded their construction skills but said the vandalism was unfortunate.

“They have taken the hay and put together some chopped branches, they have also chopped a stair and taken the handrail off which is frustrating."

He said the problem was they were doing it in the wildlife area rather than in the public space.