AN area earmarked to be declared of special scientific interest in Sedgley is in for restoration after a funding boost.

Dudley Council has been awarded £16,500 for work on an area of Sedgley Beacon which is recognised as a finest examples of limestone grassland in the Black Country.

The funding, from the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and The Black Country, will pay for three weeks of intensive work this autumn and autumn 2014 when overgrown areas will be cut back to provide more space for wildflowers which will attract pollinating insects and other wildlife such as birds and small mammals.

Councillor Tracy Wood, Dudley cabinet member for environment and culture, said: “The Sedgley Beacon grasslands have been identified as one of the finest examples of limestone grassland in the country and we are rightly proud of them.

“The Beacon already provides an appealing green space for the local community but this management project will help to restore the biodiversity of the area and provide a beautiful, peaceful haven for both wildlife and the people of Sedgley.”

The area, which developed from abandoned quarry workings, has previously been designated an site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and it is hoped encouraging wildflowers will put the area in the running for the same status again.