FRIENDS of a nature reserve in Nailsea are appealing for more volunteers to help maintain the site and for more people to visit the attraction. Over the past three years, members of the Friends of Stockway North Nature Reserve have boosted the sight's vis

FRIENDS of a nature reserve in Nailsea are appealing for more volunteers to help maintain the site and for more people to visit the attraction.Over the past three years, members of the Friends of Stockway North Nature Reserve have boosted the sight's visitor numbers from 80 to 700.But despite the great increase, the group still needs more help to maintain the reserve and attract more people.Chairman of the group's management committee, Andrew Town, said: "We are desperate for people to help and desperate for visitors."We want to try to get more people involved so it will give people a greater understanding of wildlife and help to protect nature on a wider basis."Dedicated volunteers have cleared away the brambles and scrub from the previously derelict site and planted new trees, flowers, shrubs and built a pond and a wildflower meadow. To draw in more visitors, members have been inviting pupils from Golden Valley, St Francis and Kingshill primary schools to take part in regular pond dipping sessions, tours and wildlife spotting.Community groups, such as mother and toddler clubs, have also been to the reserve to learn about wildlife and members have put on a number of special open days to promote the attraction.The nature hotspot boasts 180 species of plant, 33 species of bird, 15 types of butterfly and nine different types of dragonfly and damselfly.Members of the friends group want to continue to improve the different habitats for wildlife to preserve it as a nature reserve and use the area as an educational facility for youngsters.Mr Town said: "It's become well used by a proportion of the population, especially children, but we still want to attract more people."The management committee, which consists of five volunteers, maintains the sight by clearing the path and pond, cutting the grass, weeding, planting native plants and recording the number of different species in the reserve.New volunteers are always welcome and anyone interested in becoming involved can call Andrew on 01275 858064.