Worcester Woods Country Park
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With a hundred acres (about ten football pitches) of ancient Oak
woodland on your doorstep, perhaps a stroll through the Bluebells
or to listen to the woodland birds is just what you need to get
away from the bustle of the city. Or maybe you would prefer
to wander through romantic wildflower meadows, alive with bees and
butterflies feeding on the sweet nectar in early summer. Or perhaps
you just want some wide open space to let off steam, fly a kite,
kick a ball or exercise the dog.
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Worcester Woods is a popular place just to bring the children to
play and catch up with friends and a cup of tea from the café. If
you want to venture further afield but are not sure where to start,
there are two waymarked walks that
help you explore the woods and the meadows. Both are fairly flat,
with benches to rest at and no stiles, so you can relax and enjoy
the wildlife at your own pace. The woodland walk in particular has
a good firm surface even after heavy rain and is accessible for
most wheelchair users.
Nunnery Wood was owned by St Wulstans hospital, under the
auspices of the Bishop of Worcester, hence it's name. The wood with
its adjoining meadows, together with Nunnery farm, was run by a
small order of local nuns, known by the name White Ladies. The
White Ladies of Nunnery were of an austere Cistercian order who
wore white robes and black scapulas. In 1545 during Henry VIII's
dissolution of the monasteries, the bishop's land was broken up and
Nunnery Wood became an endowment to Christ Church College, Oxford,
who still own the deeds of the wood today.
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Ancient Oaks, Wild Service Trees, Aspen, Hazel, Crab Apple, Pear
and Yew trees can all be found in Nunnery Wood, an indication of
its ancient standing. The ancient Oak on the edge of the woods is
well over 500 years old. It has been left to mark the boundary of
the wood. Birds like Jays, Nuthatches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers,
tits and Blackbirds can all be seen in the woods, or gathering
round the feeders hung by the Countryside Centre. Spring is the
best time for wild flowers in the woods, before the leaves come out
on the trees and create too much shade underneath. Pretty white
Wood Anemone and yellow Lesser Celandine are two of the first to
appear, followed by swathes of aromatic Bluebells. Along the
lighter edges Red Campion and Buttercups spring up.
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Even in winter the woods are full of life. Birds find food in
the seeds and fruits, and may be easier to see with the bare trees.
Winter is also the time when the sites officers are working in the
woods.
Coppicing is a traditional method of management that allows
different ages and heights of trees, each of which provides food
and shelter for a variety of insects, birds and mammals. Sunny
glades provide light and warmth for a variety of insects and
woodland flowers. Trees with especially dense thickets underneath
provide homes for and food for countless insects, birds and
mammals. Coppicing also produces wood that a craftsman can
use without killing the tree. The practice was resumed in Nunnery
Wood in the 1980's.
The woodland pond was dug out many years ago by local people
wanting the clay soil or marl to fertilise their fields. The
hole in the ground, or marl pit, that was left filled up naturally
with rainwater held by the waterproof clay soil underneath. The
water attracts a wide variety of wildlife. Yellow Flag Iris,
dragonflies, frogs, Great-Crested Newts, and many other plants and
insects thrive in and around the water. Woodland birds and animals
drink and bathe in the pond.
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Hornhill Meadows have been meadows since Medieval times, and
have escaped modern farming practice, proof of which you can see in
the ridge and furrow lines still in the fields. This makes them
particularly valuable for their wild flowers including Red Clover,
Black Knapweed, Ox-Eye Daisy and Yellowrattle, aptly named for the
seedpods that rattle inside the flowers. They are a good indication
that the ground has been undisturbed and managed in traditional
ways for a very long time. These meadows attract butterflies like
Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Copper and Gatekeeper.
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The meadows are mown later than modern hay crops to allow
flowers to spread their seeds for next year. They are also lightly
grazed some winters, most recently by rare breeds Gloucester
cattle, to help remove nutrients and keep the grasses from taking
over. Look too for the fruit of the old pear trees in the hedges, a
traditional symbol of Worcestershire.
An area of orchard has recently been restored. They are the
remains of Horn Hill Farm, dating back to the early 19th century.
The farm buildings are no longer around, but the orchards are
important historic features in Worcestershire. They may contain
rare old varieties of fruit tree, and the old trees provide havens
for many types of wildlife. The orchard here contains apples,
cherries, pears and plums, and can be seen along the Fox Trail near
the meadows.
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There is a regular bus service from the city centre to get to
Worcester Woods Country Park, and the facilities once you are here
ensure a comfortable visit, whether you are staying for half an
hour or all day. With BBQ hire, a fun orienteering course, regular
special events and walks, dog training classes, café with a range
of gifts and cards, children's play area and so much more to do
here; you'll want to return time and time again.
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The Orchard Cafe
Welcome to The Orchard Cafe at Worcester Woods Country Park. We
have a strong emphasis on locally sourced, organic, fair trade
products. Our flavoursome dishes with aromas to match will no doubt
tantalise any taste buds.
Delivery Service
We are launching a delivery service as from the middle of May
2008. We have a great new menu that we have specially designed to
make sure you get your food on time and as fresh and delicious as
you would if you were sitting right in the cafe. Please take a look
at our website for more details. http://www.theorchardcafe.co.uk/
To keep our carbon footprint to a minimum we will be delivering
at the moment within a one mile radius. Please contact us to see if
we can deliver to you. You can still order and pick up if you
wish.
In-House Catering Services
We have a number of meeting rooms at the Worcester Countryside
Centre (where The Orchard Cafe is). We can cater for your meetings
here. We offer a wide selection of Fair-Trade tea & coffee,
juices & water. We can also provide outstanding, fresh, made to
order buffets, using local ingredients. Why not take a look at our
menu on the website and if you would like to order you canphone us
on 01905 766 492 or fill in the handy online order sheet and e-mail
back to cafe@theorchardcafe.co.uk This e-mail address is being
protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Wi-Fi Connections
You can come along to The Orchard Cafe and log on to the
internet or download your e-mails with your laptop/mobile and enjoy
high speed broadband, completely FREE!!! Happy surfin dude!
Additional Site Information
From J7 of M5 follow A44 to Worcester (pick up B&W signs
after roundabout) turn right onto Swinesherd Way then 1st left onto
Wildwood Drive.
From J6 of M5 follow A4538 to Evesham, (pick up B&W signs
along this road) turn right at 1st roundabout onto B4636 (to
Worcester) then left at the next roundabout (Nunnery Way - A4440)
and then right at the next roundabout onto Wildwood Drive.
OS Maps
Landranger 150 Explorer 204
Opening Times
Country Park and Countryside Centre including café open daily.
For more information and a menu visit http://www.theorchardcafe.co.uk/
Countryside Centre: open 9am –5pm
Country Park: pedestrian access 24 hours, car parks: 5am
-9pm
Site Facilities
To help you enjoy your visit to Worcester Woods Country Park, a
free site leaflet is
available which contains a map and information on the site's
history and wildlife, as well as in depth guides to both walking
trails.
You can also download a fun Worcester Woods
Activity Pack for the children!
View our meeting
rooms flier for more information on the meeting room
facilities at Worcester Woods Country Park
For further information contact the Countryside Service on 01905
766493.
