A PHILANTHROPIST has bought a riverside field which was owned by an environmental charity for 28 years.

Chapter Meadows, which lies on the Diglis River Severn walk, has finally been sold after being owned by the Duckworth Worcestershire Trust (DWT).

The field was taken over by DWT in 1998 but has recently been sold to Tom Greenway, the owner of 3dtotal Publishing.

The trust said the decision to sell the land was made after "significant challenges" over the past few years, which led to the closure of some of its operations.

One included the trust moving out of the Pump House in Gheluvelt Park in September 2023.

Beatrice Duckworth, the wife of the late Cecil Duckworth, founder of the trust, said: “We were pleased to sell the site to Tom.

"Like Cecil, he is a successful local businessman wanting to make a positive impact on nature and people.

"We looked at a number of options, and we feel that the site is in a very safe pair of hands for the future."

Mr Greenway said he is keen to carry on the legacy of the DWT and recognises how important this site is to the people of Worcester and to nature.

He aims to continue the environmentally sensitive grazing regime at the site and is investigating how to enhance its ecological value.

3dtotal Publishing will take over the meadows as its first substantial local project.

The Duckworth Worcestershire Trust (DWT) purchased the land to benefit the residents of Worcester.

Under the ownership of DWT, the trust has undertaken a programme of restoration projects.

Work has included ditch clearance, replanting native hedgerows along the original boundaries, and installing bridges, stock-proof fencing, access gates, and a flood-level indicator.

However, the overarching management strategy for the grassland is based upon conservation grazing and hay cuts, which maintain the diversity of this species-rich hay meadow grassland.