A GENEROUS £20,000 donation has helped secure the future of a unique county wildflower meadow.

Waste management firm Severn Waste Services has given the cash to conservation charity Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to allow it to purchase Baynhall Meadow, in Naunton Bishop, near Per-shore.

Although the site is relatively small, at just over one hectare, the trust says it is one of the best examples of a traditionally-managed hay meadow in the entire country.

Reserves team leader Helen Woodman is thrilled that the trust has secured the meadow as a new nature reserve.

The cash is a vital lifeline in being able to ensure the site can be maintained in its current condition.

“We’re really grateful to the company for donating this money and enabling us to buy this beautiful piece of land,” she said.

“A one hectare meadow doesn’t sound like much but this is one of the best examples of a ridge and furrow hay meadow in the country.

“The fact that the mediaeval farming landscape of ridge and furrow is still so visible demonstrates just how little ploughing, or other disturbance, the field has had over the last few hundred years.”

The site is home to several plants that are scarce in Worcestershire, including dropwort, dyer’s greenweed and adder’s-tongue fern.

Severn Waste Services has a landfill site situated just a few miles away from Bay-nhall Meadow.

Spokesman Ian Barber said: “Our Landfill Communities Fund offers an opportunity to counterbalance the impacts of landfill on the community and broader environment.

“We’re delighted that we can help the trust to protect another meadow in this area, so close to Piddle Brook Meadows, which we were able to help secure a few years ago.”

The delicate nature of the new reserve means access will be limited and anyone wishing to visit should apply to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust for a permit.