Teenagers have been taking care of the great outdoors by taking part in a conservation project at the Woodland Trust’s Frodsham Hill Wood.

The Earth Skills Project (TESP) invited teens taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme to get involved in a wide variety of countryside maintenance and conservation tasks as part of a working holiday.

Activities included path maintenance to improve access and general woodland management.

The eager participants cleared and repaired the steps at Frodsham Hill, replaced path edging on one of the popular routes there, added waymarker posts, cleared holly and performed general maintenance and litter picks in the area.

Woodland Trust site manager Neil Oxley said: “This was a great opportunity to have an enjoyable, outdoor-working experience and make a genuine contribution to protecting and maintaining the local area.”

Kelly Coles at TESP said: “Our aim is to encourage those of all abilities to get outdoors and the work we do with the Woodland Trust helps to make that aim a reality.

“It also gives our young volunteers experience, alongside a better understanding and appreciation of the importance of keeping these places of natural beauty accessible to all.”

TESP’s next residential will be running from October 24-28 at the Queen Charlotte’s Wood camp. Volunteers will be carrying out some much-needed maintenance sessions, which involve learning new skills like green woodworking or bush craft, and there will be fun, relaxing events in the evenings.

Further information and the application form can be found at: www.theearthskillsproject.co.uk/residentials.html .

The Earth Skills Project can be contacted on: 07580 293231 or by email at: info@tesp.org.uk.