Conservationists hope a community festival could bring in scores more volunteers.

Cart rides, morris dancing and kite flying are just some of the activities on offer at the Friends of Telscombe Tye Heritage Fest.

The festival starts at 10.30am on September 8, with a barbecue from 7.30pm and a Diamond Jubilee and Olympics -themed firework display at 8.30pm.

Friends of Telscombe Tye chairwoman Clare Evans said: “It’s something to show people the Tye and what we do and to inform people about a lovely piece of the countryside.”

This will be the third festival of its type and organisers hope to raise awareness for the group and what the volunteers do for the local environment.

The Friends of Telscombe Tye Conservation Group was formed in early 2004 and works to protect the natural environment of the area. Volunteers carry out a range of tasks, from litter-picking to scrub clearance, weed-pulling and plant and animal surveys.

Clare said: “We’ve got the new dew pond so we’ve got a lot going on there, like the vintage tractors, and we’ll hopefully be doing some threshing.

“It’s going to be a fantastic day out, especially with the working horses, which are always popular.”

St Laurence Church will also be open in the morning, with Telscombe Village Club opening in the afternoon for an arts and crafts fair.

Visit www.friendsoftelscombe tye.co.uk/heritagefest.htm for more information and a timetable for the courtesy bus service from Telscombe and Peacehaven and East Saltdean.