Conservation students have created an ecological plan to conserve and improve the ponds, grassland, and ancient woodlands at Wispers Park retirement village in Haslemere.

The independent-living retirement development sits within 25 acres of woodland in the countryside, which gave Merrist Wood College students the chance to put their learning into practice and assess key areas for conservation.

The students teamed up with property management company FirstPort to create the ecological plan.

The report highlighted the vast wildlife in the area, from dormice to palmate newts and frogs. Students found evidence of a probable medieval wood bank and suggested key areas for improvement, such as creating an additional pond to increase the amphibian population.

Two of the students returned to the site and presented their findings to residents. The residents then walked through the woodlands and learnt about different ways they can help to protect and preserve the beauty spot.

Student Holly Davey suggested residents start a community group to work on preserving wildlife.

Christian Phipps, sustainability manager at FirstPort, said: “The students have done a brilliant job of identifying how we can take some of the fantastic environment at Wispers Court and look at ways of managing it for future generations.”