A WILDERNESS dubbed 'the jungle' has been tamed for the community after work to reclaim it bears fruit and the project begins to bloom in a sea of wildflowers. 

Once unloved Woodmancote in Warndon in Worcester is starting to take shape now it has been reclaimed while still remaining a haven for wildlife, including hibernating hedgehogs.

The land had become an eyesore, overgrown and used as a dumping ground for fly-tipped rubbish.

As previously reported, a pushchair, office seat, bin bags, a paint roller, toilet roll and soggy beer crates just a sample of the items dumped in the then encroaching undergrowth. 

TAMMED: Woodmancote in Warndon after some of the vegetation was cut back and the land cleared of fly-tipped rubbish TAMMED: Woodmancote in Warndon after some of the vegetation was cut back and the land cleared of fly-tipped rubbish (Image: Supplied) The park once contained children's play equipment including a zip-wire, slide and 'wigwam', removed in 2008. 

However, as these photos show, the transformation is well underway and it is beginning to show its true potential as a space for people and the natural world to co-exist harmoniously. 

The outline plan, first shared some months ago, still stands and community involvement is deemed to be key to the success of the project.

The raised beds are still looking for owners to tend them before planting, but natural pathways are emerging and the wildflowers are blooming.

BEAUTIFUL: Woodmancote in Warndon has retained its natural beauty but been tamed for the community to enjoy BEAUTIFUL: Woodmancote in Warndon has retained its natural beauty but been tamed for the community to enjoy (Image: Supplied)

Creating a stumpery and further planting, particularly of fruit trees, lie ahead and nature boards will be sited around the space, with information to help people identify what’s around them and fun facts for the kids.

Cllr Jill Desayrah, who started the project with land owner Sanctuary Housing almost two years ago, said: “Overall progress is slow, because respecting the extensive natural world this area now supports is vital.

FLASHBACK: Woodmancote in Autumn 2022 before the project got underway (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

"In “the jungle”, the dream to cut a path through the middle remains. However, it isn’t certain how much can be achieved within Sanctuary’s budget and the natural “window of opportunity” to work on this space isn’t huge.

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"Everything there must be done in the three months between the end of the bird nesting season, (at the start of September), and the hedgehog hibernation period, (start of December).

"As always guided by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, we will see what can be done this autumn. The Cranham Primary School remains involved in the cleared green and local residents are invited to come along from 12 noon until 2pm on Saturday, August 17 to our second Family Day, to see and discuss this burgeoning space, and hopefully join our small but growing community gardening group; to get involved in owning and enjoying what will be a very pretty little natural oasis. And there will be free snacks and ice cream - so what’s not to like."