QUEEN guitarist Brian May and Hobbit star Ian McKellen are among the celebrities helping infant school pupils in their quest to safeguard Upton Heath.

Upton Infant School youngsters have already raised almost £1,000, after selecting Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Upton Heath nature reserve as their charity appeal of the year.

The children, who use the heath on a regular basis, wrote to a number of celebrities and public figures asking for memorabilia to auction.

Funds will go towards DWT’s conservation work on Upton Heath, which took on particular significance following the devastating fire in 2011.

As well as signed photographs from Brian May and Ian McKellen, right, the children also secured signed photos from Prime Minister David Cameron and David Attenborough.

Upton Infants School deputy head teacher Daniel Williams said: “Upton Heath is a valued local wildlife area, one which many of the children use on a regular basis, and it was an easy decision by the children to support this local treasure.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s east Dorset Warden Nigel Brooks accepted a cheque for £936.90 from the infant school.

“It is great to see young people engaging with wildlife in their local area,” he explained.

“The work DWT has done on Upton Heath since the fire is a great example of how important it is to manage land properly.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but with an army of volunteers and continued support from the local community, we have made important steps to rebuild the fragile habitats which were damaged by the fire in 2011.”