SMARTPHONE users could soon be tapping into wealth of information about the Malvern Hills if a trial period is given the go ahead.

The Malvern Hills Conservators’ land management committee heard how QR codes, which stands for quick response, could be used to share information about their work on the hills and prominent visitor attractions.

The codes are electronic barcodes which can be scanned by smartphones to gain access to websites.

Dr Emma Philpott, of Key IQ Ltd, addressed the committee on Thursday, August 4 in the Manor House, Grange Road, said a trial code was already in position on the information board at Park Wood, in the Purlieu, West Malvern.

She said: “I thought it would be great to give more information to people and you can’t have signposts everywhere. The amount of information you can communicate to people is unlimited.

“The beauty about this is you know exactly where they are standing, so you can direct them to places. There are many places you could put them.”

The trial would consist of 10 codes in different locations around the hills.

As any potential project is likely to receive funding via the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it is likely to be low-cost, with a QR code costing £10. Income could also be generated by selling advertising to local businesses.

Ian Rowat, director of the Malvern Hills Conservators, said the codes could appear on information posts to reduce costs as well as sharing details of their work with the public.

He said: “It would help to explain what we are doing.”

The proposal will be taken to the full board of Conservators before a final decision is made on rolling out the trial.

* A quick response could have secured the future of a Castlemorton Common reservoir.

A leak was noticed in the dam wall of Mill Pond, in Golden Valley, and following further site inspections an engineering company has been commissioned to conduct a report on the work required.

Also at the meeting, permission was granted for an easement across common land at 56 Old Wyche Road, while a similar access at Rose Farm land in Guarlford Road was turned down.

The committee also moved that access to a new planning application for six apartments at 18a Peachfield Road remain unaltered.

A site visit will be made to assess the need for an extension to an access track to agricultural land at Hollybed Common.