IT MIGHT have been a touch damp but that didn't quell the enthusiasm of the new Forest of Dean Conservation Group as they dug into their first tasks at Tidenham Chase.
Under the direction of Sarah Killingback of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust they set to work clearing vegetation from an exposed area of rock.
The volunteers, of all ages and from all walks of life, were among a group of 20 people who signed up for conservation work after going to a family fun day and awareness raising event organised by the Trust at Woorgreens recently.
"This has enabled the Trust to set up a group dedicated to nature conservation work in the Forest," explained Sarah Killingback.
As well as helping at the reserve the volunteers received some basic tuition in nature conservation and heard all about health and safety guidelines for their kind of work.
The rocky ridges at Tidenham are an area of special geological interest in the South West .