A £1.3 million project to reintroduce grazing animals to the Malvern Hills and restore part of its historic network of water spouts has been given significant backing of National Lottery funds.

The Malverns Heritage Project has cleared the first of two stages towards securing a large scale grant of National Lottery money.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has agreed a grant of £30,000 for the project's backers to develop a detailed submission for money.

It has also set aside £863,500 for the project, payable if the backers produce a detailed plan acceptable for the lottery authorities during the next 12 months.

The Heritage Project is spearheaded by the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Service. Its partners include Worcestershire County Council, Herefordshire Council, Malvern Hills Conservators, Malvern Spa Association, English Nature, Countryside Agency, National Trust and English Heritage.

At its heart is a move to reintroduce grazing animals as a natural means of maintaining the environment tackling the vigorous growth of bracken, which threatens to fundamentally change the nature of the 'bare' Hills.

The project envisages employing a 'shepherd' for five years and purchasing a conservation flock, probably of sheep. To control the movement of animals, a network of cattle grids will be installed around the southern Malverns, "a major capital element of the project", according to AONB officer David Hancock.

The project will effect a large area of the southern Malverns in both Herefordshire and Worcestershire, including key sites like Castlemorton Common, Swinyard Hill, Chase End Hill, Midsummer Hill and Ragged Stone Hill.

Backers are also undertaking to carry out "positive conservation work" to tackle bracken and scrub to maintain the balance of habitats and safeguard Scheduled Ancient Monuments.

The project also provides for the restoration of ten "priority" water features identified by the Malvern Spa Association.

Lottery officials have been told that education, interpretation and the provision of information are "key components".

There is also a place for a project officer, a three year post to deliver the proposals, to work with common rights holders, to develop a marketing strategy for 'Malvern Lamb' from the flock, and oversee the water feature work.

The provision of funds has been hailed as "excellent news for the Malvern Hills" by the director of Malvern Hills Conservators, Ian Rowat.

"It will involve talking to people to make sure our plans are workable within the timescale," he said, "It will also involve us in a lot of extra work. However, the reward of securing sustainable management for the southern sections of the hills is a big step in the right direction."