HOOLIGANS on motor-bikes are ruining a nature reserve which has taken hundreds of years to cultivate.

Louts have turned parts of Seven Fields Nature Reserve near Penhill into a scrambling track.

The worst hit area is a five-acre area of meadow near Penhill copse, home to orchids and other wildflowers.

Volunteers who help manage the reserve say the bikers are putting dog walkers and their pets in danger.

Conservationist Marilyn Beale said: "It has been building up for the past six months but has got worse since Christmas.

"Many of these bikes were probably given as gifts, and some of the troublemakers have been seen with their parents."

The 100-acre site is one of the best in the county for wildflowers.

The hay meadows have been used for hundreds of years and have never been sprayed with pesticides.

"If this keeps on, it will be ruined," said Marilyn.

"It has taken hundreds of years to get to this stage.

"If this carries on we won't be able to repair the damage."

Besides churning up the meadows, the vandals have been tearing along paths and dirt tracks.

"These tracks are often used by dog walkers and people out with their children."

No one at Swindon police station was available for comment.

However, community beat officer WPC Sarah Ennis is aware of the problem.

A meeting of community leaders was due to be held today.

Last month, the Adver reported how youths were racing motorbikes in Abbey Meads.

They turned a one-mile path, between Abbey Meads and Penhill, into a race track.

Residents were concerned that someone could be harmed.

The troublemakers, aged between 15 and 17, are thought to have used a 500cc scrambler bike.

Tamash Lal