THE Malvern Hills rise abruptly out of the midland plain like some enormous sea creature, the undulating contours adding to the drama of their appearance.

There is indeed something unusual - nay, magical - about this part of Worcestershire. And it's not just the breathtaking scenery.

Some may think that the inhabitants of this cluster of settlements that clings to the base of the oldest hills in Europe tend to be stuck in their ways... retired majors, dowagers down on their luck, aging rich folks biding their time in God's waiting room.

But Malvern is also a middle-class backwater with a slightly faded feel and this is what makes it attractive to those round pegs among us that have such difficulty fitting into square holes.

Yes, we're talking old hippies here. You'll find them all over the place, refugees from the Stones '69 Hyde Park concert, clutching their crystals and celebrating the solstice on Midsummer Hill.

Now, there is every likelihood that another piece is about to be added to the multi-coloured patchwork that makes up this vibrant town.

This newspaper has learnt that a group of Buddhist nuns aims to set up home in the area. They plan to establish a £3m nunnery and clinic for complimentary medicine.

From pre-history to the defeat of Caractacus, the age of the Wilderness to the vandalism of Victorian quarrymen, this ancient ridge has seen much.

Now, a fresh chapter is about to begin. We wish the Buddhists well.