Biodiversity Projects in Worcestershire

Pershore Wetlands (the Avon Meadows)

Flood meadows between the River Avon and Pershore town have been restored and enhanced in a project that will not only help protect local properties from flooding and filter runoff entering the river from the town but also greatly increase the biodiversity value of the site.

In the short time since the works were completed to create a network of ditches and scrapes, the wildlife has started to move in and make use of the new pond, reedbed and wet grassland habitats.

Partners in the project include Wychavon District Council, Pershore Town Council, Pershore Market Town Partnership, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, Natural England and Pershore College. A 'Friends of Avon Meadows' community group has been established to help manage the site and monitor the wildlife.

Malvern Hills Orchard Survey

The project developed and tested Local Wildlife Site criteria for orchards to be used by the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Local Sites Partnerships.

Kemerton Conservation Trust Orchard Restoration

The project is part of the Countdown 2010 initiative, co-ordinated by the National Trust, to restore and protect orchards across the country.

Grow with Wyre

In 2008 the Forestry Commission and partners secured a Landscape Partnership Scheme grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the unique landscape of Wyre and celebrate its rich working history.

Find out more about the project by visiting the Grow with Wyre website.

Plantlife Tower Mustard Project

Plantlife undertook habitat management in 2008 and 2009 on Kidderminster road verges to secure the future of the last remaining populations of Tower Mustard in the West Midlands.

Visit the Plantlife website.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Orchard Biodiversity Project

With funding from Natural England, this project was undertaken by Dr Rob Widdicombe in 2008 on behalf of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire LBAPs to investigate the threats to traditional orchards from development and landscape and environmental change.

The final report of the project is available to download here.

The project presented a paper to the Orchards and Groves conference at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2008. The paper is available to download below.

Orchards and Groves Conference paper 

Worcestershire Habitat Inventory

This ongoing project provides a complete land use and habitat inventory for the county using aerial photograph interpretation and data analysis.

The first mapping stage of the project was completed in April 2008 and new data will be added as it becomes available to ensure the inventory remains current. For more information see the Worcestershire Habitat Inventory page on our website or contact Emily Barker.

Worcestershire Ancient Tree Project

Funded by the Heritage Lottery between July 2007 and May 2009, this project worked with local volunteers to locate and survey ancient trees throughout the county.

Almost 3000 trees were recorded, with the biggest discovered being a huge oak tree with a 13m girth growing just outside the village of Great Witley. There are still more ancient trees to find and we welcome new records!

The project was hosted by the Worcestershire Biological Records Centre on behalf of the Worcestershire Recorders.

The Worcestershire Vision Mapping Project

Tomorrow's Heathland Heritage