Green-fingered volunteers appeared to take on the role of whip-slinging action hero Indiana Jones this week, as they did their bit to improve parts of one of High Wycombe’s lost parks.

As part of the Revive the Wye project, which aims to improve areas across The Rye, government workers were invited to join other gardeners at a large scale clean-up in Desborough Recreation Ground, off Fryers Lane.

About 25 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) workers were involved on Thursday, and Wycombe District Council – who supports the initiative – has praised the volunteers.

Cabinet member for community, Cllr Julia Adey, said: “We did a lot of work to completely transform the river at the Desborough Recreation Ground last year, when we took the water out of a straight concrete trench and naturalised it with a better flow and new planting.

“So it is great to see the DEFRA volunteers taking an interest in the work that is going on in Wycombe and helping to make further improvements to this important open space, which is enjoyed by people of all ages.

“I would like to thank the volunteers from DEFRA and the Revive the Wye team, who have done so much over the years to revitalise the river, for their hard work. It is an example of what we can achieve when we all work together.”

As well as changes to the stream in the recreation ground, an improved wetland habitat was also created on both sides of the open space.