The beauty of the Malvern Hills is to be maintained with the help of a �1m Lottery grant.

The �963,000 Heritage Lottery Fund money will be used to restore ancient features of the hills that are under threat.

Organisers said the money would improve the environment for visitors to the 3,000-acre hills, which straddle the Herefordshire -Worcestershire border.

Much of the work will be carried out by local groups.

It's about increasing people's quality of visit to the hills and their enjoyment of them

Anne Jenkins, Heritage Lottery Fund

Anne Jenkins, the regional director for the fund, said: "The project involves archaeological features, reintroducing traditional management techniques and the restoration of important water features.

"It will improve the overall management and landscape of the Malverns, to restore some of the features that have been lost."

She emphasised the work would not threaten the overall beauty of the area.

"The project won't be about over-managing the landscape.

"For example there are a number of archaeological features, earthworks, which are in danger of erosion.

"The reintroduction of traditional grazing is the best way of managing and retaining the earthworks in the best possible condition," she said.

"It's not about increasing tourism to the hills, it's about increasing people's quality of visit there and their enjoyment of them."