THE guardians of the Malvern Hills have pulled up a host of daffodils after they were planted illegally.

The Malvern Hills Conservators have urged people not to plant garden flowers on the hills to prevent damage to the area's unique habitats.

And they have warned people they will root out any unwelcome flowers found growing on the hills.

The warning came after daffodils were discovered sprouting on the slopes of British Camp - in breach of the Conservators' bylaws.

Beck Baker, the community and conservation officer, said: "Daffodils add a splash of colour in the garden but do not grow wild up on the hills.

"Over 140 bulbs were planted by someone on the slopes of this nationally-protected monument which threaten the native grassland that is so important here.

"We ask you not to plant any bulbs or plants on the hills and commons so we can work to conserve the native species and habitats that have been here for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. We will remove any bulbs or plants we find.

"The daffodils weren’t there last year, so have been planted over the last year by a member of the public. It’s something that we see a bit of but I think this is one of the largest plantings."

"Sometimes people do plant flowers or bulbs to remember loved ones on the hills so it can be a sensitive issue. It could be that someone wanted to brighten up that area of hill but unfortunately it’s not appropriate to plant them on the hills.

"One of our wardens had to dig out all the bulbs and remove them. We have also found a garden variety of snowdrop on North Hill which we’ve also removed.

"We cannot be everywhere on the hills at all times so we are unlikely to catch someone in the act unless another member of the public reports it to us.

"Any garden plants we do find we will remove to preserve the rare and important habitats and species of the hills and commons."

She said the planting is in breach of the Conservators' bylaw 2(b) which states that "no unauthorised person shall knowingly bring or leave on or in or knowingly permit to be brought on and left on the Hills any form of living vegetation in such circumstances that the same would be likely to reproduce or propagate itself".

She said: "In effect, nothing should be brought onto the hills that might set seed or plant anything that is likely to propagate, spread or reproduce."