Visitors to the Orchard Trust Day Service Smallholding in Lydbrook will soon be able to get closer to the rabbits which live there, and help with their care.

Construction of the new Rabbitarium has begun thanks to a group of volunteers from GE Aviation in Gloucester.

They dismantled and recycled the old fencing and helped to clear the ground ready for new development. Phill Hucks, the manager of the Day Centre said, “This was a major help to us as it moved the new project from the planning stage to the start of construction. It was great to have the team with us and they did a great job.”

The new rabbitarium will be a big covered and fenced outdoor space where rabbits can run free and service users can get in amongst them. The new space will mean that service users and visitors to the Day Centre can interact fully with the smaller animals and help with their care.

The Orchard Trust is a charity in the Forest of Dean that supports the involvement, independence and development of people with learning disabilities. The Trust benefits hugely from corporate volunteering from companies like GE Aviation.