Picture Ref: 77730-26SWINDON ...AND PROUD OF IT: THEY are a Swindon-based company normally associated with designing bridges and roads.

But Halcrow has now broadened its horizons after delving into deepest China to help look after pandas.

And in between munching on bamboo and sleeping, one female giant panda called He Le will now be inexorably linked to our town.

As part of a high-profile project in China to transform Chengdu Panda Park, Halcrow has decided to sponsor He Le.

The design consultancy, based in Burderop Park, Wroughton, won the competition to design a transformation of the giant panda breeding and research base in Sichuan province into an ecological centre with improved facilities for both the rare animals and visitors.

He Le was born in 1999 and is a fully mature adult.

In August 2004, she gave birth to her first baby and it is hopeful she will have another this autumn.

The research base was established in 1987 in order to stop the decline of the protected species and provide a safe environment for breeding. The base has bred over 90 baby pandas and has attracted worldwide publicity.

Halcrow's design ensures greater privacy for the pandas while allowing limited public viewing areas, improved educational and conference facilities, and an expanded car park. It announced the sponsorship at the unveiling of a plaque in the park.

Bill Austin, Halcrow's regional managing director for Asia Pacific, said: "It was a delight to meet He Le. By sponsoring her, we are again showing our support and commitment to the park and helping raise awareness both nationally and internationally of pandas.

"We can educate people around the world about the panda itself as well as the work being done on the park. Our winning bid was based on the fact that we showed great sensitivity to the needs of the panda.

"We showed the right balance between trying to attract people to the park to boost the vital income and the welfare of the pandas.

"This is a highly prestigious project and we are proud to have won it and be associated with the park and the amazing work that they are doing."

Across China there are now 40 panda reserves protected areas for pandas compared to 13 two decades ago.

Jamie Hill