GREEN fingered staff at a North-East law firm rolled up their sleeves to help a charity restore a patch of ancient woodland to its former glory.

Charity Shepherds Dene, which provides retreats to people of all faiths from its premises at Riding Mill in Northumberland, received a Forestry Commission grant to remove non-native trees from an area of ancient woodland along the March burn and replant the area with native trees.

A group of volunteers from Muckle concentrated their efforts over the weekend on collecting the old timber and brushwood for a bonfire, working through inclement weather to ensure the job was done.

Now the space has been cleared, Shepherds Dene can begin replanting the area with 500 trees, including native species of oak, ash rowan, alder and willow trees.

Hugh Welch, senior partner at Muckle LLP, who took part, said: “Our people are always keen to do what we can to help the people and communities where we live and work. “Although the day involved a lot of hard work, there was also a lot of fun involved and we all really enjoyed ourselves at Shepherds Dene.”

George Hepburn from Shepherds Dene, said: “This was such a big, physically demanding job – it had defeated us. There were just too many big trees for us to move. That’s when we called on Muckle to help. “They did the work superbly well, with great good humour, giving up their time on a Sunday and they even carried on working in the rain until the job was done. “We really appreciate Muckle’s help. The woodland will become a wonderful new experience that will add to Shepherd’s Dene and restore a very beautiful woodland gorge.”