A NEW ranger has been appointed to look after some of west Wiltshire's best-loved countryside.

Leo Wirtz, senior countryside ranger, is responsible for managing and improving Barton Farm Country Park in Bradford on Avon and the Bratton Camp open space near the Westbury White Horse, among other sites owned by Wiltshire County Council.

Mr Wirtz, who used to work for the National Trust in Devon, is keen to involve local people in the upkeep of the sites and hopes to create volunteer support groups in the future.

He said: "I will be working closely with Wiltshire people to look at how these areas of countryside can be developed in the future.

"This might involve creating information displays about the history and ecology of the sites, or improving facilities such as benches and picnic tables."