BOTANIST David Bellamy has been searching through the undergrowth in a patch of woodland to help schoolchildren create their own nature trail.

The popular conservationist met the children from St Andrews Primary School at Weymouth Bay Caravan Park in Preston. He had been called in to help them discover the plants and insects in the woodland that has been adopted by the school.

The triangular site next to the entrance of the park has been overgrown for about 20 years.

Prof Bellamy, now 71, was once a renowned television presenter, and although the children did not recognise him they were soon enthralled by his stories about the wildlife.

Pupils will be drawing their own designs for the woodland trail, which could include bird and bat boxes. Maintenance manager Willy Perez said: "What we want the kids to do is design their own little nature park. We are going to try and get as many of their ideas in as possible."

Prof Bellamy was visiting Weymouth Bay to film a five-minute video for holidaymakers who take part in the David Bellamy Family Park Rangers scheme, which will be shown at Bourne Leisure sites next year.

He said: "The thing I never really understood was that parents never see their kids on holiday but Park Rangers lets them get into activities together. This is something useful I'm doing in my old age."

The rangers scheme was set up by Prof Bellamy, an environmental consultant for Bourne Leisure, to encourage children and their parents to find out about the countryside, wildlife and healthy activities.