MORE than 150 youngsters from year seven at Minehead Middle School had the chance to help the environment and bag themselves a free Christmas tree in the process.

They joined forces with staff from Exmoor National Park Authority's education and ranger teams and the Crown Estate's rangers to remove invasive conifer trees from a small area near Grabbist Ridge above Minehead.

It was the third year the heathland restoration project had involved local schoolchildren in the removal of conifer seedlings.

Left unchecked, the self-seeded saplings would quickly turn the area back into coniferous woodland, threatening the rare heathland habitat of the endangered heath fritillary butterfly.

Dave Gurnett, the 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."