ANGELS CLEAN UP ESTATE; AN alliance of women and children are hard at work putting the life back into their Valleys community. Lisa Jones went to visit them at one of their projects.

A GROUP of mothers and children has joined together to brighten up their South Wales estate, in a bid to change its poor reputation.

Now conducting their second year of smallscale conservation projects, the Nature's Angels are due to spruce up an area on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil. The roundabout and grass verges at the end of Lupin Close are some of the last areas to be targeted by the 40strong collective in a planting exercise.

One of the founder members, Mair Jones, 45, of Bramble Close, said: ``We were sick and tired of the bad publicity that the estate was having. We thought that if it looked pretty and clean it would make people happ e r.

``After the demolition of the estate it looked terrible, but it's come on lovely now.''

On hand with help and advice on planting up the busy roundabout were members of Groundwork Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Gavin Jones, who coordinates Groundwork's greencare project, said: ``We are due to plant gorse, broom, heather and blue periwinkles next week, which we hope will reflect the biodiversity of the environment.''

Tracy Hitchings, 36, of Clover Road, has been a member since the group was started two years ago.

She said she disliked gardening so much she had her back garden concreted over.

Tracy said: ``I got involved because of all the bad publicity we were having. It was a challenge to me because I didn't like gardening. Now my garden is full of hanging baskets and I really like it.''

Great grandmother Joan Thomas, 62, of Marigold Close, is a recent recruit.

She said: ``I like to see a lot of flowers everywhere. It will brighten the place up a bit.''

Opposite the roundabout a dozen children were helping replant daffodil bulbs which had been torn out.

Motheroffour Mair said: ``We like to get the children involved because it stops them wrecking it. They respect the area.'' In March the fledgling group picked up an award from Keep Britain Tidy for their work. Mair said: ``We were so excited, it was unbelievable.''

Nature's Angels wants to grow its ranks still further and is appealing for volunteers of all ages and abilities to join them.

For more information, contact Mair Jones on 01685 350137.

CAPTION(S):

# HARD WORKING Members of Nature's Angels push along Michelle Gane from the Groundwork Trust, Merthyr and Rhondda Cynon Taf. PICTURE: Peter Bolter.