VOLUNTEERS are turning an Old Town quarry into a haven for wildlife.

Quarry Wildlife Garden once mined for its stone is surrounded by houses yet managed to attract a vast array of wildlife from the dragonflies and frogs that enjoy the small pond, to the badgers which inhabit its four corners.

The gardens have been a Site of Special Scientific Interest for some 50 years because of its unusual geology, but volunteers hope that once the work has been complete, the gardens will become Swindon's sixth Local Nature Reserve with sponsorship from English Nature and the Big Lottery.

Karl Curtis, the council's bio-diversity ranger, said: "This site is truly an urban oasis. It's surrounded by houses and yet attracts a huge range of wildlife."

At the weekend a small group of volunteers were hard at work removing broken branches, which were bunched together to create a new habitat for small animals and birds. Others cleaned out overgrowing weeds in the pond to encourage frogspawn.

John Remington, a retired education worker from Swindon, volunteers his services for Swindon Council three days a week at parks all over the borough, and he said: "This is an enjoyable job. It gets you out of the house and keeps you warm on a cold day like this.

The rangers are always looking for more volunteers and anyone interested should contact Mr Curtis on 01793 829704.