Harrietsham Parish Council has been given a Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £40,900 to look after a treasured green space in the village.

The money will allow the council to manage Teers Meadow, home to a variety of plant species such as the common spotted orchid, pyramidal orchid and twayblades. It is also home to protected reptiles including the slow-worm and viviparous lizard.

The project will begin in the autumn with the installation of new post and rail fencing, access gates and the removal of some of the invasive scrub.

Once the area is secure, grazing cattle will be moved in to clear the grassland so that rare chalk grassland plants can flourish.

Parish Council chairman, Eddie Powell said: “This is a very exciting project for Harrietsham.

"We are fortunate to live in a village on the edge of the Kent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and this will encourage residents of all ages to look and appreciate the countryside in which we live.”

The parish council's lottery bud was supported by Harrietsham Primary School, health walk leader Majorie Darby, local Scouts Group and the Kent Field Club.

The four acre meadow sits behind St John The Baptist Church and close to The Pilgrims Way. It was purchased by Harrietsham Parish Council in 2012.