Outdoor enthusiasts, families and anyone wanting to get some fresh air is invited to help sow seeds to and plant a hedgerow with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on Sunday.

Volunteers at Blakehill Farm, Cricklade, will work from 10am-2pm to plant a hedgerow, creating an outdoor education zone and sow wildflower seeds - all as part of Save Our Magnificent Meadows, the UK’s largest partnership project, primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which aims to reverse the fortunes of vanishing wildflower meadows and grasslands.

Toos van Noordwijk, Magnificent Meadows public engagement officer for the WWT, says: “This hedgerow will be very good for pollinators. Comprising mixed native species including hawthorn, blackthorn and guelder rose, it will provide food for bees, particularly early in spring when there’s not much else around.”

There will be a range of wildflower seeds to sow, especially cornflower annuals, which are a really good pollen and nectar source for struggling pollinators, such as bumble bees, solitary bees and butterflies.

“The meadows have declined so much,” says Dr van Noordwijk.

“The fact we can make a change, and increase flowers for bumblebees is a great thing.”

The hedgerow will form a natural boundary for a children’s al fresco classroom, as well as providing shelter for birds and small mammals.

“I’m particularly excited about the education area which will give us the opportunity to bring children into close contact with good quality meadows, so they can not only see, but smell and feel them, and explore what’s in there," said Dr van Noordwijk.

"They’ll be able to lie in it, explore it and catch bugs in it.”

Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy boots and bring a packed lunch – though hot soup, tea and coffee will be provided - and to meet at Blakehill car park, on the B4040, near Cricklade, at 10am.

Save our Magnificent Meadows is:

• Targeting just under 6,000 hectares of wildflower meadows and grasslands in nine strategic landscapes across the UK, including Wiltshire.

• Giving people all over the UK the chance to visit, enjoy and learn about wildflower meadows and grasslands.

• Raising awareness of the plight of our wildflower meadows and grasslands and equipping communities with the knowledge and skills to reverse this devastating trend.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust combines the management of 40 nature reserves and working with local communities to promote sustainable living.

For more information about the trust visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org