THE ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort are clearly visible for the first time in about 50 years and plans are in place to protect them for future generations.

Malvern Hills Conservators has worked to preserve Midsummer Hill thanks to £3,800 funding from Natural England.

The partnership has also included the National trust, which owns the site, and English Heritage.

The long-term vision for the nine-acre site, which is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is to create a circular walking route around the base of the first rampart.

Recent scrub and secondary woodland have been cleared from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the work, which will be staged over a number of years, is aimed at allowing the rich acid grassland to thrive and wildlife to flourish.

This follows complaints about the work from Coombe Green resident Sally Gibson in the Malvern Gazette.

Jennifer Grantham, the Conservators’ deputy conservation officer said: “We’re really pleased with the work so far and are excited to see the final result in the future.

“Unlike the British Camp Iron Age hillfort, the ancient earthworks of Midsummer are barely recognisable so the management will improve the visibility of the earthwork as well as protecting the ancient archaeology for future generations and enhancing wildlife in the area.”

Iain Carter, National Trust’s countryside manager for Herefordshire, said: “I have to say it looks fantastic.

“The ramparts are now clearly visible and all of a sudden you can understand the shape of the hillfort.”

Katey Stephen, Herefordshire’s land management and conservation adviser for Natural England, said the work would help protect the historical and wildlife interests of the site.

She said: “The current management on Midsummer Hill aims to restore this habitat where it has been lost through the absence of grazing over the last few decades while also protecting the nationally important archaeology of the area.”