A nature reserve has recruited dogs wearing backpacks full of seeds to help re-wild the area.

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust, a charity that champions nature and the environment in Lewes, is running a "first of its kind" project involving dogs wearing backpacks.

The charity is being aided by dogs from Lewes mimicking the behaviour of wolves, who became extinct in the UK around 1760.

Wolves would roam large areas with wildflower and grass seeds attached to their fur, naturally distributing the plants across a wide region.

Nature reserve walkers have been equipping their dogs with canine backpacks containing seeds, which are then scattered through holes by the dogs across the reserve.

The project is being funded by Ouse Valley Climate Action, a National Lottery-funded project which inspires positive, community-based action against climate change.

Seeds will be deposited across the reserve through holes in the backpacksSeeds will be deposited across the reserve through holes in the backpacks (Image: The Railway Land Wildlife Trust)

The project is currently being trialled on a small area of degraded woodland and following its success, the trust hopes it will be expanded next year.

Project Manager Dylan Walker said: “This has been such a joyous experience. Local dog walkers have been so helpful and positive about the project.

“They’ve helped to protect and enhance our nature reserve. Dog walkers often get bad press when walking in the countryside so we’re so pleased to tell a story in which dogs and their owners are the stars.”

Dog owner Cressida Walker: “I signed up for the project because it sounded like such a good fit.

“I was asked to place a harness on my chocolate Cocker Spaniel called Bertie and he ran around spreading seeds like wolves used to do many years ago.

“It’s such a great project to involve our local community and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of it.”

The Railway Land Wildlife Trust was founded in 1988 and is based in the Linklater Pavilion, an environmental education centre on the edge of the Lewes nature reserve.

The Railway Land reserve was previously used as a railway marshalling yard and became a nature reserve in 1995.

It stretches nearly 40 hectares and is part of the South Downs National Park.