Insects like pantaloon bee, minotaur beetle and hornet robberfly, birds such as stonechat and yellowhammer as well as reptiles like common lizards and slow-worms will see their habitat expand as Worcestershire Wildlife Trust purchase 95 acres of land next to already existing nature reserves.
The charity has long-term plans to restore heathland to the 95 acres of ex-farmland at Dropping Well Farm between Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster. The Trust launched a fundraising appeal in autumn last year and received donations from members of the public as well as from grant-making trusts and funds.
News that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the charity £523,600 means that they can now complete the purchase of the land. The Trust began managing the land in 2019 thanks to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation who bought it to allow time for the charity to raise the funds needed.