PUPILS from Minehead Middle School did their bit for the environment while bagging themselves Christmas trees.

More than 150 Year 7 pupils from Minehead Middle School joined forces with education and ranger teams from Exmoor National Park Authority and The Crown Estate to remove invasive conifer trees from a small area near Grabbist Ridge, above Minehead.

Children removed conifer seedlings to prevent the area reverting to conifer woodland, which would threaten the rare heathland habitat necessary for the endangered heath fritillary butterfly.

This is the third year the heathland restoration project has been run.

Dave Gurnett, Exmoor National Park Authority's education manager said: “This is always a popular and fun event which the children really enjoy.

“By removing the seedlings over these three consecutive years small glades have been opened for butterflies and the youngsters can appreciate first-hand how rapidly a landscape can change.”