Ash-Mae Fawthrop lends a hand during the clean up Picture: SIOBHAN BOYLE Ref: 76846-36WORK to give a derelict farmhouse at Stanton Park nature reserve a new lease of life has begun.

Swindon College and the Parks DIY community group have joined forces to redevelop the building.

And the Swindon Services Ranger Team, Nature For All, is hoping the project will attract more visitors to the beauty spot.

Stanton Park is a natural wonderland lying just on the eastern edge of Swindon. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, the reserve transports visitors to a world of peace and tranquillity.

Paths wind through the park's woodland, which is home to species of oak, ash and hazel.

And if you take a closer look you will find birds, insects, fungi and bats.

But one of Nature For All's biggest priorities is its work with the local community. This is why the farmhouse project, which began yesterday is so important to the rangers.

Johannah Fawthrop, community liaison officer for Nature For All, is delighted the community is getting involved to regenerate the farmhouse.

She said: "Ninety per cent of the work here involves community groups and we want this to continue and for it to evolve."

The collaboration between Swindon College and the Parks DIY community group is designed to make this happen.

The Parks DIY community group hold courses to give people living in the Parks and East Walcot area a chance to learn practical skills. The group is supported by Swindon College, which provides the expertise and knowledge.

Members of the group will begin in the top room of the farmhouse, stripping walls, laying floors, decorating and fitting new windows, and will work their way down the three-storey building.

William Hall, 42, is a lecturer and project co-ordinator at the college.

He said: "Our aim is to give people the confidence boost to learn new things.

"Projects like this are a chance to try something you wouldn't normally do for the first time."

Husband and wife, Nancy and Mick Dwyer, had rolled their sleeves up and grabbed hold of a paint stripper each.

The couple are self-employed and work in sales but wanted to find out how they could benefit the community.

Mrs Dwyer, 44, of Park North, said: "I have never done any DIY before but it's really great fun.

"We both wanted to learn something new and so far it's not been too hard."

The redevelopment of the farmhouse is a five-year-long project.

When it is complete, it will be home to an education and visitor centre, caf and office for the rangers.

Their aim is that the farmhouse will promote environmental education in Swindon.

Lyndsay Scanlan