Little Malvern and Welland - A Natural Networks Case Study

With the Malvern Hills looming to west, the village of Welland has many greenspaces nestled among its houses, a number of which have become better spaces for nature thanks to funding from Natural Networks and the Malvern Hills National Landscape.

Little Malvern and Welland Parish Council approached Natural Networks with a view of increasing biodiversity across the parish for the benefit of people and wildlife. A total of seven reports covering 23 individual greenspaces (ranging from road verges to the village park) and many hours of planning from the Parishes’ Biodiversity & Environment Officer, has resulted in many spaces for nature being created and enhanced across the village.

Welland Cemetery: wildflowers, fungi and sculptures

Although listed as a Local Wildlife Site (LWS) for its species-rich meadow habitat, mismanagement through excessive mowing had seen the meadows of Welland Cemetery reduced to a short mown grassland with limited flowering opportunity. The short grassland has, however, created ideal growing conditions for a number of waxcap fungi and other grassland coral fungi, including the red-listed pink ballerina waxcap Porpolomopsis calyptriformis.

Through liaising with the British Mycological Society and Professor of Mycology at Aberystwyth University, Prof. Gareth Griffiths, a management plan and mowing regime was created to benefit both the site’s wildflowers and its grassland fungi. The meadow area at the end of the cemetery will be allowed to grow and flower over the summer, providing an excellent habitat and nectar source for native pollinators. Then come the autumn, after the meadow is cut and the cuttings collected, the management switches to create a low grassland sward, ideal for waxcap fungi to fruit. This management, coupled with ongoing monitoring of the site should result in the greenspace supporting many species.

Around the boundaries of Welland Cemetery, three large leylandii cypress trees, which were doing very little for nature, have been replaced with a native mixed species hedgerow, providing a greater habitat area and more diversity in blossoms and fruits. The stumps of the leylandii trees have been expertly carved into wonderful statues by local craftsperson Ant Beetlestone. One stump depicts two tawny owls and another is carved into fungi found within the grassland. The third stump has been left as standing deadwood for the benefit of deadwood-loving invertebrates and a dog-rose bush has been planted at its base to grow up and over the stumps. Any significant timber from the trees has been made into log piles at the northern end of the cemetery whilst the remaining brash has been chipped to mulch the newly planted hedgerows.

Welland Park and road verges: wildflower turf and spring bulbs

At the southern end of Welland Park, a section of native wildflower turf has been installed to create an instant impact wildflower habitat in the summer months. The park, regularly used by dog walkers and Welland Primary School for P.E. classes, needed to be kept as usable as possible but the Parish Council still wanted wildlife to benefit from the greenspace.

The wildflower turf, when it flowers over the summer, will contain oxeye daisy, common knapweed, red campion, common vetch, bird’s-foot trefoil, field scabious and yellow rattle, amongst a whole host of other native wildflower species. All of these will provide an excellent nectar source for native bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinators as well as providing colour to the park.

Pursers Orchard: heritage fruit trees, grassland and a new pond

Situated in the heart of Welland, this community orchard is owned and run by a small volunteer group. Natural Networks first got involved at Pursers Orchard back in 2021, when officers surveyed the site and provided advice on how to preserve the veteran fruit trees, manage the grassland and scrub habitat as well as the potential for creating a wildlife pond.

In 2024, Natural Networks retuned to the site, providing the community group with a grant to add a variety of native pond plants to their newly created wildlife pond (in the photo at the very top of the page). Into the pond went a number of oxygenators, including whorl-leaf water milfoil, water hornwort and common water starwort, all of which will provide excellent habitat for invertebrates in the pond and keep the water oxygen rich and beneficial for wildlife. Some native water lilies were planted in the deep sections of the pond, whilst around the edges of the pond yellow flag iris, purple loosestrife, bog pimpernel, water forget-me-not, pink rush, penny royal and St John’s wort were all planted, providing pond edge habitat and a variety of flowers for native pollinators.