THE unspoilt countryside of the Woolhope Dome is waiting to be discovered during a series of special wildlife events over farmland, woods and meadows beginning this weekend.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust is running the walks at its nature reserves which lie within the area of distinct hills

and the programme begins on Saturday, May 16 at 10am with a bluebell walk.

The Woolhope Dome lies to the south-east of Hereford and the hills are covered in a mosaic of ancient woodlands,

traditional orchards, wildflower meadows and agricultural land interlaced with unspoilt streams and is one of the last places in the country where all these habitats can still be found together.

The Dome encompasses the village of Woolhope, Haugh Wood, Broadmoor Common and four Herefordshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves; Wessington Pasture, Common Hill, Nupend Wood and Lea and Paget’s Wood.

Traditional woodland plants such as wood spurge, stinking helleborine, stinking iris, and spurge laurel can be found as well as grassland flowers, wild daffodil and a multitude of orchids.

Butterflies and moths are in abundance and include lesser common species like the pearl bordered fritillary and drab lopper as well as the shy dormouse.

The programme continues on May 24 with a fossils, forts and flora walk. On June 13 there’s badger watching for

families, on July 4 a Wildplay Wild family night walk, a butterfly walk on July 25 and a fungus foray on October 21.