Young people from west Wiltshire have been restoring an historic garden on the Ammerdown estate near Radstock thanks to a £10,000 grant.

The garden is in a folly and surrounds a historic column built by the sons of the former owner of the estate, Thomas Jolliffe, who served as an MP and died in 1824, to commemorate him.

Young people from Wiltshire College and the Amber Foundation in Trowbridge, as well a unemployed youths referred by Connexions in Trowbridge and Chippenham, were among those taking part in the project, which is run by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV).

BTCV Trowbridge senior project officer Ben Rawlings, 28, from Southwick, said: "The project adds to our work in training young people in Environmental NVQs through Wiltshire College and gives them a practical focus.

"It began in November and has been a real success. So far we have cleared away the brambles, planted new grass seed and rebuilt parts of the surrounding walls.

“Our plan was to rebuild it to its former glory and so far the response from the residents has been positive."

Money for the project was donated by GreenPrints, an environmental partnership dedicated to helping young people improve green spaces in their communities.

Restoration work will continue until the end of May.

The Ammerdown estate is now a retreat and conference centre run by a Christian organisation.