EFFORTS to turn back the clock and restore the lake and river of Croome Court to their 18th- Century glory are underway.

The National Trust, which owns the grounds of the estate near Upton, is preparing to clear scrub and undergrowth from the banks of the river and lake.

The work is part of a 10-year plan to recreate the vision of legendary landscape architect Lancelot 'Capability' Brown.

Croome was Brown's first commissioned landscape park where his idea was for a meadow landscape with grass grazed to the water's edge so its clear surface could reflect the parkland. The restoration work will also see a network of wetlands to filter and treat the water.

The current system is polluted by nutrient run-off from agriculture and diesel, oil and salt from the M5.

The wetlands will also provide a habitat for wildlife displaced by the scrub-clearance programme.

Part of the project will be to dredge the lake and river. Sediment will be allowed to dry and then removed next month to be spread on surrounding fields which are being returned to pasture under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Project managers are hoping the dredging operation will also turn up some archeological finds.

Visitors will get the chance to see the work going on tomorrow and Sunday when a Hard Hat Happening event takes place from noon to 4.30pm. Admission is £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and £7.50 for a family.