VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help maintain and improve the wildflower meadowes at The Leasowes.

Wardens at the Grade I listed historic landscape and nature reserve need people to help with the annual hay raking of the grass land areas at the Halesowen beauty spot.

Dudley Council’s countryside service team has organised meadows volunteering days and is inviting local people to come along and take part to help improve the grass lands for wild flowers and butterflies.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environment and culture urged wildlife lovers to get involved.

She said: “The volunteering days are a fun way to learn more about the historic landscape of the nature reserve and about the wild flowers and butterflies that can be found there.

“Our wardens do a great job of maintaining our green spaces, and the volunteering days are a chance to find out more about how they work and how they look after the different landscapes that make up the borough.”

The council has made a commitment to work along with communities as part of its community council status.

Cllr Bills added: “As a community council we want to work with people to enhance and improve areas like The Leasowes for future generations.”

The next volunteer day is on Tuesday, September 9 and will run from 10am to 12pm.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the wardens office on the car park, off Mucklow Hill and sensible outdoor clothing and shoes are advised.

Volunteers will also be needed in the coming months for the restoration of the historic walled garden at The Leasowes.

The Hales Owen Abbey Trust have bought the garden from Bimingham Metropolitan College, which inherited the garden when it took over Stourbridge College.

The trust plans to restore it to its former glory when it was used to grow food to feed the family of Edward Horne and his servants from the 1770s.