Future of Iron Age site secured

Hundreds of people are expected to celebrate the preservation of a hill fort in Herefordshire that is more than 2,000 years old.

The future of Credenhill Iron Age Hill Fort and Park Wood on the edge of Hereford has been secured through a combination of grants and fundraising.

The fort is thought to have been the site of an Iron Age tribal capital.

The Woodland Trust was able to to buy the whole area after more than £70,000 was raised locally, in addition to grants from Severn Waste Environmental Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Visible ramparts

Credenhill Iron Age Hill Fort is one of the largest such structures in the UK and dates from 200BC.

It is shrouded by a conifer plantation but has extensive, visible ramparts.

Very little is known about the ancient monument and hardly any historic material has been recovered in the area.

The Trust has said it is working with Herefordshire Council's Archaeology Department to carry out extensive surveys on the site in an effort to find out more about the site.

Laura Judson, of the Woodland Trust, said: "The celebration event on Sunday is just one very small way of thanking everyone who contributed to the appeal.

"Without this support we would not have been able to proceed with any aspect of the project. Everyone is especially welcome to the event.

"It will be an opportunity to follow the 'rampart walk' around the site and a chance to hear about our plans for the care, management and restoration of Park Wood."

The celebration takes place on Sunday.