A HISTORIC earthwork feature on the Malvern Hills has just been restored by Malvern Hills Conservators.

Thanks to grant funding from Historic England, the Conservators have made vital repairs to a section of the Shire Ditch that runs along the crest of the hills.

A section of the ditch ditch on Perseverance Hill, on the middle section of the range, was being eroded away gradually by walkers and rainfall.

Once the vegetation has been lost through the passage of feet, rain water leads to further erosion, by washing loose material down the slope.

With help and advice from Historic England, Conservators' field staff filled the eroded gully with stone so that water can drain down the slope and topped it off with grass seed to provide a protective vegetative cover.

The Shire Ditch is a nationally protected monument and is an important part of the history of the hills, running almost five miles along the ridge line from the Worcestershire Beacon south to Midsummer Hill.

Beck Baker, community and conservation officer, said: "Although it is not a particularly grand structure, the Shire Ditch is an important part of understanding the history of the Malvern Hills and shows how important the Malvern Hills ridge line was for people. We now need to look after this history for future generations and it’ll still be there to see in another 1,000 years."

Dr Neil Rimmington, assistant inspector of ancient monuments at Historic England said: "Although the Shire Ditch is thought of as a medieval monument, there is evidence that the boundary was constructed in the Bronze Age, some time between 2,500 and 800 BC. Conserving the monument will ensure that the evidence of this history is preserved."

It is known that the ditch was fortified in 1287 and at that time marked the boundary between the land of the Red Earl, Gilbert de Clare, and Bishop Cantilupe from Herefordshire Cathedral.

To this day, it still marks the boundary between Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

A small area of the path remains temporarily fenced off to allow the grass to grow on the newly-repaired section.