WILTSHIRE Wildlife Trust's new visitor centre at Lower Moor Farm has been crowned with an environmentally friendly roof that will grow into a wildflower meadow in the summer.

The scheme is part of major project to replace old farm building at the trust's newest reserve with a visitor facility as well as a home for different creatures, including bats and insects.

Head of reserves Dave Turner explained: "Buildings can provide fantastic habitats for wildlife.

"This visitor centre was built on top of an old farm courtyard to avoid disturbing new land, and actually provides better wildlife habitat than what was there before."

He added: "The miniature meadow will provide nectar for butterflies, homes for other insects and a resting ground for birds."

The roof consists of a rubber membrane covered with a drainage layer, gravel and then soil.

Grass seeds from the neighbouring Clattinger Farm reserve, which has some of the finest hay meadows in the country, have been sown in the earth.

When the meadow has grown it will provide insulation and absorb pollutants from the air.