Bradford is close to getting its first official Local Nature Reserve.

Conservationists have a five-year management plan for preserving a 13-acre site of lowland heath in Low Moor - split in half by a railway line.

About 60 different types of bird and 20 species of butterfly have been counted at the rare habitat site, just off Railway Terrace.

The siding was closed in 1960 and has been developed into a reserve, with Local Nature Reserve status about to be awarded by the Countryside & Rights of Way Service.

Since the Second World War, the UK has lost up to 40 per cent of such heaths because of the land being put to work. Now an environmental charity, Green The City, based at the Cathedral Centre, is determined to protect this Council-owned patch of heathland.

To help the group save the land as one of the district's top spots for wildlife it needs as many volunteers as possible to cut back brambles and thin out trees so more foliage can grow and low-ground insects can move about easier.

Peter Boyd, of Green the City, said: "It's an amazing place, one of only three lowland heaths left in the whole of Yorkshire and it's less than four miles from the City Hall clock.

"It's a jewel and needs looking after. It's a rare habitat indeed."

This week it was the turn of Yorkshire Building Society staff to pull on their wellies and arm themselves with traditional tools such as scythes, saws and rakes as part of their voluntary Actionteering project.

Mr Boyd said volunteers' support was vital.

"We have a plan but we need volunteers to help us fulfil it," he said. "We've got a number of groups and organisations lined up willing to give us a hand.

"We've also got the blessing of the local community and surrounding businesses. We carried out a public consultation and got back about 70 replies saying Yes, get on with it'."

Yorkshire Building Society volunteer Stacey Porter said working in the outdoors made a refreshing change from being desk-bound.

"It's quite demanding work, not as easy as typing at a desk, but it's great to be outside," she said. "We're more than happy to roll our sleeves up and get our hands dirty!"