THE diverse wildlife and historical interest of Great Malvern Cemetery has led it to being included in the Heart of England in Bloom judging route.

This year's theme of Local Roots, inspired organisers to expand on traditional locations and include the site.

Part of the cemetery is left as a wild garden and only has the grass cut once or twice a year to encourage wildlife.

Chairman of Malvern in Bloom, John Jordan, said: "Our local cemetery is an obvious place to look and I would like to identify graves of people who have featured in Malvern's past and who are buried there."

Mr Jordan hopes to create a heritage trail which identifies many of the graves of people who have played a part in forming local history.

Amongst well-known people buried at the Madresfield Road cemetery are Charles-Dysons Perrins of Worcester sauce fame, Charles Morgan of the car company and even the founder of the Malvern Gazette.

It has been suggested that local youth groups could take part in tidying up, clearing and cleaning the gravestones.