Conservation specialists have begun a £270,000 project to transform historic meadows at Hampton Court Palace into a paradise for wildlife.

Water voles, bats and reed warblers are expected to be among the species that will flock to the floodplain.

Twickenham MP Vince Cable visited volunteers and experts working on the project on Friday, July 22.

The Sita Trust has injected £100,000 into restoring the ancient network of grazed water meadows, creeks and wetlands.

Jason Debney, co-ordinator of the Thames Landscape Strategy, said: “Although the meadows form part of the floodplain the area has not flooded in over half a century so the historic network of creeks and channels - some dating back to King Henry VIII’s time - have fallen into disrepair and silted up.

“It is anticipated that flooding is going to increase in the coming years making the need to restore a working floodplain very important to move water in and out efficiently. When the scheme is finished the paddocks will be criss-crossed by a network of hedges, ditches and reedbeds - great for horses and a haven for wildlife.”