One of York's most ancient but least-known commons is to come under the spotlight on Monday.

Hob Moor: new group will plant trees and hedges, survey the common's wealth of wildlife and research its history

Locals who want to conserve the history and wildlife of ancient Hob Moor are meeting to set up a Friends group to help manage the 70-acre common.

They hope to plant trees and hedges, survey the common's wealth of plant, bird and insect species, and research its geology and history.

A survey of the common in the early 1990s described it as being ecologically one of the most interesting in York. It is designated a 'site of importance for nature conservation'.

As well as ancient pastureland used by the freemen of York from time immemorial to graze their cattle - it is still grazed over the summer months today - the common includes scrub, wetland, heath and ancient hedgerows.

It is home to a host of plant and animal species, including a large number of butterflies, dragonflies, sparrowhawk, merlin, newts and voles.

It also has a rich history. The 17th century plague stone - also known as the Hob Stone - on Little Hob Moor is thought to mark the site where poor victims of the great plague of 1603 were driven after being expelled from York itself.

Medieval ridges and furrows used by early farmers are still clearly visible beneath the grass at the southern end of the moor.

Elizabeth Smith, the driving force behind the new group, who lives on Orchard Way overlooking the common, said most York people knew little about it.

The aim of the new group was to get local people involved in the management and conservation of Hob Moor, and to make others aware of the treasure on their doorstep.

She also wants local people with memories of the common from the 1920s onwards to come forward to help create an 'oral history' of Hob Moor.

She said: "We want to conserve and nurture what's already there, enhancing it for the wildlife and hence for us. there is a huge potential for doing that and for creating a greater awareness of its ecology and history."

The common belongs to the freemen of York, and is managed on their behalf by City of York Council, which still encourages cattle grazing there over the summer.

Ian Bowes, the council's countryside officer, said that helped to maintain the diversity of plant and hence animal species.

He said: "The level of grazing is just right to keep down the rank grasses from invading, but it is not over-grazed, so that a diversity of plant life is maintained."

The inaugural meeting of the Friends of Hob Moor is to be held on Monday at Acomb Methodist Church Hall, Front Street, Acomb at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.