SCHOOLCHILDREN enjoyed an action-packed wildlife day with help from Worcester's "wildlife rangers".

More than 60 pupils from Warndon Junior School learnt on Friday about how life has evolved on Ronkswood Hill meadows, Worcester's largest piece of scrubland, from Worcester City Council's conservation officers.

"The children's first task was to make a detailed survey of the plants and minibeasts they found as well as any evidence of mammals and birds with a view to introducing the concept of food chains," said conservation officer, Warwick Neale.

"Later on we looked at the meadows in a wider context, examining the influence of humans on the site."

The rugged 30-acre site, which was last ploughed in the 1920s, is native to Worcester Black Pear, ragged robin and black knapweed and is home to green woodpeckers, skylarks and small owls.

Two years ago it was designated as a local nature reserve and is now managed by the ranger team, which has got children from Warndon Junior involved in studying the area twice before.

"The sessions are always enjoyable and the children get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that wildlife is being protected and being allowed to thrive in at least one special reserve within the city," said Mr Neale.

"It's encouraging to know that conservation takes a high priority in children."

The rangers last year helped children from Ronkswood Junior School plant 640 trees on the edges of the meadow to replace lost hedgerow plants.