Worcester Wildlife Trust buys rare flower meadows

Wildflower meadows are very rich in wildlife. Credit Wildlife Extra

December 2009. Piddle Brook Meadows in Naunton Beauchamp have been bought by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. This is thanks to local waste management contractor Severn Waste Services and the wonderful response to a fundraising appeal from Wildlife Trust members and supporters.

The Trust managed to meet its November deadline to raise the funds required and successfully completed the purchase of the three meadows near Pershore. Severn Waste Services matched donations from members of the Trust and the public £1 for £1 to successfully raise the required £75,000.

Important site for meadow flowers and plants
"The fields are important meadows rich with wildflowers and scarce plants such as downy-oat grass, dropwort and meadow rue. The meadows and hedges support populations of grasshopper warblers, butterflies and insects while the Piddle Brook itself is home to kingfishers and otters.

"We now need to start work on repairing and installing fencing to make the fields safe for grazing animals as well as supplying a suitable water supply for them. Establishing a grazing regime will help to protect the wildflowers and enhance floral richness across the whole site."

Public access
Public access to the meadows remains in place via public footpaths and the Trust is keen to look at the potential for improving the opportunities for visits to appreciate both the meadows and the adjacent Naunton Court Fields which is already one its nature reserves.

Colin continued "These meadows help to create a local network of sympathetically managed sites which are essential to help wildlife move through the landscape to find food, water and shelter. It's our vision that this is just one of many local networks that connect to create a Living Landscape across the UK."

Severn Waste Services operate waste management and recycling facilities for Worcestershire County and Herefordshire Councils and its Hill & Moor Landfill Site is just a couple of miles further down the Piddle Brook. Helping with the purchase of Piddle Brook Meadows is just one of a large number of local environmental and community projects under the provisions of the Landfill Communities Fund that the company has supported.

Colin Raven, Director of the Trust, commented "Tremendous thanks must go to each and everyone who sent a donation in response to our appeal in October. We must also thank Severn Waste Services for matching the donations with funding from the Landfill Communities Fund scheme.