A MALVERN nature reserve will soon be run by a local volunteer group which has been looking after the site for the district council.

Malvern Hills District Council met this week to discuss proposals to allow St Wulstan's Local Nature Reserve Group its own budget.

The proposals also included plans to introduce a park ranger or have cattle grazing on the land at the former hospital in Malvern Wells.

The nature reserve group members said they were starting to feel like unpaid volunteers, as the council currently holds the purse strings.

They wanted more autonomy in deciding what happens to the reserve.

"There's a growing feeling of frustration within the group and we need to see some progress in developing a relationship with the council that allows us some degree of control and responsibility," said Andy Lyon of the nature group in a letter to the district council.

The group has been in practice since last summer.

Volunteer working days are held on the first Sunday of every month where local people meet to carry out a range of work on the 55-acre site.

The age ranges from primary school children to retired people.

So far, volunteers have cleared overgrown pathways, cut back invasive brambles and marked existing paths.

The executive board of Malvern Hills District Council decided to set up longer-term management arrangements as well as budgetary arrangements.

"This was the most appropriate way to manage the site," said Gary Williams, head of development plans and conservation.

Overall responsibility will still remain with the district council.