ONE of the largest nature reserves in Herefordshire will benefit from the help of new equipment.

The Alpine tractor and mower will maintain land at the Coppett Hill nature reserve in Goodrich near Ross-on-Wye.

It was bought by the Coppett Hill Common Trust Ltd and the charity, the Friends of Coppett Hill.

Chairman of the trust, Martin Rowberry, said: "As part of the Higher Level Stewardship scheme with Natural England we are looking to improve the species rich grassland and mosaics on top of the hill and having this equipment will give us much more flexibility in what we do and when for both the needs of wildlife and biodiversity.

"The new equipment will allow us to cover the grassy areas of the hill more easily so we can mow coarse or tussocky grass, brambles and gorse to encourage the young grass and the wildflowers instead.”

Coppett Hill forms part of the iconic view from Symonds Yat.