Conservation volunteers are set to celebrate a project to restore a south Norfolk green space following a lottery grant.

The Friends of Boyland Common will be holding a launch party on Saturday to celebrate the work that has already been completed at the site in Shelfanger, near Diss.

The group received �17,894 from the Big Lottery Fund's Community Spaces programme to reinstate Boyland Common's ditches and provide access to create an open public space where wildlife and wild flowers can flourish. The friends will mark the achievement with a party from 2.30pm on April 21.

The Friends of Boyland Common was formed two and a half years ago because there was great concern about the state of the common which had gradually deteriorated over the last 20 years. The ditch system had gradually filled in resulting in the decline in the rich wildlife, which was once prevalent on the common.

This grant has enabled the ditches to be reinstated, the provision of some log seating along with a lectern for an information board.

The Saffron Community Foundation Trust has also given a small grant which has been used to complete the seating and for the aeration work to open up the compacted ground. The Waveney Valley Neighbourhood Fund has also contributed to the work for some foot bridges.

The project has the approval of the Environment Agency and the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and with their help a management plan for the continued care of the common has been drawn up.

The Community Spaces grants programme is being managed by Groundwork UK as an Award Partner to the Big Lottery Fund.