Appeal launched to buy rare wildflower meadows in Worcestershire

Wildflower meadows are very rich in wildlife. Credit Wildlife Extra

October 2009. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust needs a little help to save some of the county's precious wildflower meadows.

Colin Raven, Director of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust explained "Piddle Brook Meadows are rich with wildflowers like yellow rattle, salad burnet and sweet vernal grass which bloom through the summer. Three particularly scarce plants flourish in the remains of historic ridge and furrow - downy oat grass, dropwort and meadow rue."

Piddle Brook Meadows - £40,000 needed for purchase
The three fields which make up Piddle Brook Meadows lie in the south Worcestershire village of Naunton Beauchamp. Severn Waste Services is offering to donate half of the £80,000 needed to buy and fence the meadows - the total amount needs to be raised by November. With this tremendous start to its fundraising campaign, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is now appealing to its members and to the general public to help raise the remaining balance.

Only 2% flower meadows remain intact
"In Britain only 2% of the wildflower meadows in existence before the War still survive and in Worcestershire we are lucky enough to have around one fifth of all those left. This makes it incredibly important that we help to protect these wonderful places.

Otters, kingfishers, Grasshopper warblers and many butterflies
"But it's not only the plants - the Piddle Brook itself is used by otters and kingfishers whilst scarce grasshopper warblers, and myriad butterflies and insects inhabit the meadows and surrounding hedges.

"It's fantastic news that Severn Waste Services are willing to help us buy the land. Thanks to this generosity we have a wonderful start towards reaching our challenging target by the November deadline."

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. Over many years they have supported a large number of local environmental and community projects under the provisions of the Landfill Communities Fund.

Next door to Naunton Court Fields Nature Reserve
The Trust currently owns Naunton Court Fields Nature Reserve which directly adjoins Piddle Brook Meadows. Under Worcestershire Wildlife Trust's ownership, these fields have developed into an internationally important site for rare arable plants. By purchasing the meadows another link will be created in the local network of sympathetically managed sites which are essential to enable wildlife to move through the landscape finding food, water and shelter.

To help save Piddle Brook Meadows for the future you can donate online at www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk, by credit or debit card on 01905 754919 or send a cheque , made payable to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, to Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SZ.