If you’ve been regularly reading our blogs, you may have seen that we've been working with St Peter’s Church and community centre. This community centre is a hub for the Birchen Coppice estate on the edge of Dropping Well Farm and The Devil's Spittleful complex of nature reserves. We've been working closely for some time, with them providing key connections to other community groups and individuals that have supported the Saving Worcestershire’s Heathlands project. Kathy and Pete, who run the church, work incredibly hard and it has been fantastic over this winter to be able to give something back to them by making biodiversity improvements in the church’s greenspace. The Trust is very lucky to be working in partnership with Worcestershire County Council on the Natural Networks project, which funds 70% of biodiversity improvements in public greenspaces.
Boosting biodiversity in communities
Wildlife pond by Anna Williams
Completing work at St. Peter's church by Beccy Somers
As part of project to restore heathland and inspire people about how great heathland is, we've been able to support St Peter’s Church community centre in applying for Natural Networks funding to buy the resources they needed. Between Kathy and Pete, the Natural Networks team and the Saving Worcestershire’s Heathlands team, we have created a wildflower meadow, planted native wildflower bulbs, built a wildlife pond, planted native fruit bushes and put up bird boxes, bat boxes and an insect hotel.
It's a brilliant example to the community of how you can increase biodiversity in your garden or greenspace by adding features that will also look beautiful. Wildflower bulbs will bring an amazing splash of colour at the start of the year, followed closely by the wildflower meadow that will come alive in summer, not only with flowers but with bees, butterflies and the other insects that they will attract. The plants in the wildlife pond will add another rainbow of colour as well as a vital water source for all the visiting wildlife. New resident birds and bats making use of the new nest boxes will also be able to feed on all the insects attracted by the wildflower meadow!
Bulb planting at St Peter's Church by Beccy Somers
Creating areas for wildlife in the communities surrounding our nature reserves helps to extend wildlife habitats beyond the borders of our reserves. By providing corridors or stepping stones through wider landscapes, wildlife can travel more easily to find good quality habitats. We’re really looking forward to seeing the hard work pay off and for everything to come alive this year.
If you're inspired to create more space for wildlife in your garden, check out our top tips in our 'circle of life in your garden blog.
If you live in the Wyre Forest and want to improve your local community greenspace, get in touch with us via email: beccy@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org.
