RECORDS of a rare tree are being updated to help conservation work.

Wildlife experts fear the black poplar could be a dying breed and are attempting to log every individual tree to ensure its survival.

Around ten per cent of Britain's 7,000 black poplars are found in Worcestershire.

Steve Bloomfield, sites and species officer at the county's Wildlife Trust which is undertaking the project, said Castlemorton was a particular hotbed.

"Probably the area just to the east of the common is the key concentration in Worcestershire," he said.

"We need to do this survey so we can target conservation areas in the future."

The trust is particularly keen to find out more about any black poplars in Malvern town centre.

The tree was once used to mark parish boundaries and is associated with wetlands. But it has come under threat from the clearance of wet woodland areas and land drainage.

Other problems that jeopardise its future include the fact that male species outnumber female by 100 to one and that 80 per cent of trees are "mature".

Anyone who knows of a black poplar in the county should contact the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust on 01905 754919 or email worcswt@cix.co.uk.

The trust requires detailed information about the location of tree. A map grid reference is preferable but not essential.

Black poplars are easy to spot in spring because of their distinctive bright crimson catkins.