FLY-TIPPERS have dumped a large amount of rubbish at the entrance to one of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust's nature reserves.

The household waste was left close to Stockings Meadow near Bromyard last Friday and did include clues as to where it came from.

Its origins are now being investigated by Herefordshire Council.

Stockings Meadow is only 10 acres in size but contains a wealth of flora and fauna. As a traditionally managed wildflower meadow it is extremely precious as 95% of meadows in the UK have disappeared since the second world war.

Through the spring and summer Stockings Meadow is filled with wildflowers including cowslips, green-winged and common spotted orchids, meadowsweet, angelica and ragged robin along with a wealth of meadow butterflies.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Reserves Officer Lewis Goldwater spent the day clearing the waste.

He said: "This nature reserve is well loved by many local people and this anti-social behaviour is really upsetting.

"As well as being unsightly, the rubbish is a real hazard to both wildlife and people.

"Among the rubbish was a “Stanley” type knife which could have caused a serious injury to a child or adult visiting the reserve.

"This is not the first incident of fly-tipping at our nature reserves and it is so frustrating that a small charity such as ourselves has to divert time and money to clear up other people’s mess.”