THE search is on to find Britain's top community meadow, with help from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB are supporting the Save Our Magnificent Meadows campaign led by Plantlife, and are looking for England's most successful meadow makers.

They want to find unsung heroes in communities and schools who are doing their best to protect meadows and inspire others.

Since the 1930s, 95 per cent or 7.5million acres of meadows and grasslands have been lost. Each year more meadows are lost through neglect, change of land use or development.

Native wildflowers, such as oxeye daisies, snakes head fritillaries and bee orchids have also vanished.

Groups have worked to protect Seven Fields, in Swindon, and Dance Common, Cricklade.

Save Our Magnificent Meadows was launched in 2014 and aims to preserve and protect wildflower meadows, grasslands and wildlife.

Plantlife is working to restore 6,000 hectares of wildflower meadows and grasslands with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Neil Pullen, the nature reserves manager at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said: "Communities and individuals throughout Wiltshire and Swindon, on both private and public land have a long history of community involvement in meadow making.

"This is an opportunity for all of those involved in creation, restoration and protection of habitat to tell their story and we encourage them to take part in this and other events, such as National Meadows Day on July 2."

RSPB Wiltshire sites manager Patrick Cashman said: "We hope the stories that come to light of people working together to bring life back into meadows through these awards, will inspire others to join us as Meadow Makers."

Entry to Meadow Makers is open until July 31. Visit www.magnificentmeadows.org.uk.

The winners for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be announced in September 2016.