The Woodland and Meadows Trails at Worcester Woods Country Park

The Woodland Trail leads you gently round Nunnery Wood, pointing out special features of the woods as you go.  The route is surfaced and level.  The path through the woods crosses little wooden bridges that trolls live under and the trail winds between old and not so old trees. You will pass ancient Oaks gnarled and weathered alongside younger Hazel trees. Holly, fruit trees and Lime add to the mix, with brambles, Honeysuckle and woodland flowers underneath. Bluebells are a particular delight in spring as they fill the woods with their sweet smell and a rich green and blue carpet to feast your eyes on.

Take time to sit on one of the benches along the route and watch life in the woodland unfold.  Squirrels scuttle busily about, Jays hop around the trees searching for acorns, Robins, tits, pigeons and thrushes build their nests in the trees, and the sounds of a Woodpecker or a Chiff Chaff, one of the first summer migrants to return, are sure to put a smile on your face. There are no stiles or gates along the route, and it is well signposted, to help you explore the woods with ease.

The Meadows Trail explores Hornhill Meadows Local Nature Reserve. In spring and summer the meadows are a beautiful mosaic of wild flowers and swaying grasses, delicate butterflies on the wing, bees searching for sweet nectar on flowers and birds nesting in the ancient hedgerows. If you are visiting when the flowers are not at their best you can still admire the former farm orchard that has recently been restored, and the ridge and furrow patterns in the fields are still clear. Laid hedges add strength to the scene, made up largely of blossoming Hawthorn and Blackthorn in spring, heavily laden with fruit and seeds in the autumn.

During the winter you may find rare breeds cattle grazing in the meadows. They help keep the wild flowers growing strong the following spring by grazing the grasses down to give the flowers a quicker start. There are no stiles and three gates along this route. The trail mainly takes you across grass but a couple of sections can get muddy after extreme weather.

Route information:

Both trails start / finish at the Countryside Centre at Worcester Woods Country Park, east of the city just off the A4440 between the hospital and County Hall. Grid reference: 878544.

Additional Facilities and Information:

• Café
• Toilets
• Children's play area
• Picnic tables and information.

Download Guide to Worcester Woods Country Park 

 

This page was last reviewed 22 June 2012 at 12:20.
The page is next due for review 19 December 2013.