CHILDREN from Ruskin School will be dressing up trees in Stanton Park on Wednesday to help celebrate the park's new Local Nature Reserve status.

The children will dress up trees in colourful ribbons and be taken on a guided tour of the grounds by Swindon Council's head ranger, Ian Young, who will tell the youngsters about farming, folklore and natural and ancient history.

Stanton Park was recently conferred Local Nature Reserve status, which means that along with Coate Water and Seven Fields it will continue to offer free access to the public and have its own community liaison officer.

The council, Great Western Community Forest, Country-side Agency and National Heritage Memorial Fund purchased Stanton Park in 1996.

It was selected for Local Nature Reserve status because of its diversity, including woodland, hedge-rows, bat population, wetland and ponds. Stanton Park also houses the remnants of a Roman villa and is a fine example of a once lucrative manorial estate.