Plans to create 'largest heathland habitat' in Worcestershire

There are fewer than 600 acres of heathland left in Worcestershire, compared to 20,000 in the 18th Century, the trust said

A wildlife charity is hoping to buy more than 100 acres of land to return it to a network of heathland habitat.

Dropping Well Farm, in Worcestershire, has been intensively farmed for decades but a £1.4m project aims to create the county's largest block of heathland.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust said up to 85% had been lost across the UK over the past 150 years.

Heathland habitat must be restored so "wildlife can thrive once again", its chief executive Colin Raven said.

Now is the moment to rebuild the heathland network to help nature, according to Colin Raven

"It epitomises what we're trying to see happen, what we're trying to do to encourage nature's recovery," he added.

"It's about taking land out of agricultural production to create new heathland habitat which will be brilliant for wildlife and for people to enjoy visiting.

"Now is that moment we start to rebuild that network of habitat so that wildlife can thrive once again."

Although most of the money has been secured to purchase the land near Bewdley, the trust is asking the public to donate towards raising the final £50,000 by next month.

Dropping Well Farm, in Worcestershire, has been intensively farmed since the 1950s

The trust said there were fewer than 600 acres of heathland left in Worcestershire, compared to 20,000 acres in the 18th Century.

Burlish Top and the old Burlish Golf Course surrounds part of the land and is also being made "wildlife friendly" to help threatened species with help from European money and the county council.

When the projects are complete, 650 acres of habitat will be connected, the trust said.

Paul Allen described the area as a "huge green heart" of the district

"It just creates this big landscape," said Paul Allen, from Wyre Forest District Council.

"It's a huge piece of land that sits between Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster and in the middle of it, this huge, green heart of Wyre Forest district."