The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded nearly £2m towards a Forestry Commission-led landscape restoration project in the Wyre Forest.

A total of £1.85m will go towards the 'Grow with Wyre Landscape Partnership Scheme', which has been set up to reverse the impact that industrialisation and expanding urban populations have had on the forest. The work will create new hedgerows, clearings and fences, as well as the planting of freshly-rolled bracken and saplings. Improved habitats for native creatures such as butterflies will be introduced, and old orchards revived.

The project will see the restoration of 72sq km (27.8sq miles) of the forest's landscape through 18 projects, and plans also include a new community discovery centre next to the Forestry Commission's Wyre Forest Visitor Centre at Callow Hill, Worcestershire. Project manager for the Forestry Commission and the Wyre Forest Landscape Partnership, said: "Many of England's trees, woods and forests are important for their historic and cultural value, and Wyre is a great example of this."

Much of the forest is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the Forestry Commission is the lead partner in the scheme. Other stakeholders include Worcestershire and Shropshire County Councils, Natural England and The National Trust. Additional funding has come through contributions from the project's partners, while GrantScape has invested £300,000 and SITA Trust has provided £73,000.