MORE than 100 pupils from Minehead Middle School took a few hours off school to help the environment and bag themselves a Christmas tree.

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

This is the fourth year that the heathland restoration project has involved the children removing conifer seedlings from nearby pine trees.

If the seedlings were left to grow, the area would revert to conifer woodland and threaten the rare heathland habitat necessary for the endangered heath fritillary butterfly.

National park education manager Dave Gurnett said: "This is always a popular and fun event which the children really enjoy.

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

Photo: Steve Guscott