Residents in Mirfield are putting their backs into a project to preserve a beauty spot on their doorstep for future generations.

A dozen volunteers, including children, turned out recently to clean up the two Sunnybank Ponds at the back of The Coppice estate off Sunnybank Road.

They were joined by members of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, which is co-ordinating the initiative, Kirklees Countryside Volunteers Group and Councillor Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield).

Two skip-loads of rubbish, including a pushchair and garden chairs, were removed from the water. Volunteers also cleared overgrown vegetation to create an island where birds can nest.

Now a wire-mesh fence is to be put up to prevent children falling in and a vandalised wall surrounding the century-old ponds is to be repaired.

Pieces of wood at the site will be shredded into bark chippings by Kirklees Council for use on residents' gardens.

The council-owned ponds used to form part of a mill which was demolished a number of years ago. Houses were built on the site five years ago.

The ponds form part of an area of public open space which the developers, Tay Homes, had to set aside as a part of planning conditions.

Coun Bolt said: "The ponds are designated a site of wildlife significance in the Unitary Development Plan. They attract frogs, toads and newts, and one resident reported seeing a heron.

"We want to see a nature trail here for children from local schools.

"The ponds are among the few remaining tranquil green places in Mirfield local people can enjoy. By making more people aware of their existence we hope to stop people throwing rubbish in.''

Resident Michelle Brown, of The Coppice, who has two children, Emma, eight, and Adam, six, said: "We love the ponds. We frequently get big frogs and newts in the garden and collect them in a bucket to take back to the water.

"I particularly enjoy watching the bull rushes exploding."

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