A WILDLIFE haven is to be developed in South Oxhey, thanks to recent grants amounting to almost £30,000.

Environmental group Groundwork Hertfordshire is co-ordinating the project, developing the sanctuary on a neglected plot of land in the grounds of the former Sir James Altham secondary school in Little Oxhey Lane.

Three Rivers District Council is in the process of building football pitches on the school site and the wildlife area will be on the eastern end, close to the railway line.

Although exact plans are still to be formulated, initial ideas for the land include creating a pond - complete with a special device to process possible harmful chemicals generated from the pitches - improving the hedges that run parallel to the railway line and making the area more accessible to the public.

Groundwork Hertfordshire intend to consult South Oxhey residents during the summer to gauge how they would like the area developed.

Money for the project has come from the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) - a fund for projects seeking to redevelop South Oxhey and West Watford - the district council and Barclays Bank, which is ploughing £1 million into improving neglected patches of land across the country with its Sitesaver project.

Mr Paul Kitson, who is helping to co-ordinate the project for Groundwork Hertfordshire, said: 'The idea is to get as many people as possible involved. Over the next few months, we will be carrying out a consultation exercise. We want to involve as many different ages as possible.'

Woodhall JMI School in Woodhall Lane, South Oxhey, has already signed up to help with the project.

Some of its pupils are working on an urban wildlife project and will help to choose the plants for the site and stock the pond.

Work is expected to begin at the end of the summer.

For more information on the project, or to submit ideas, telephone Mr Kitson on 01707 260129.