THERE are lots of green spaces in Worcester, several of which have been designated as local nature reserves, and are managed for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Nunnery Wood is the best-known and is justifiably popular, but others are equally worth a visit.

Perry Wood is very attractive. The route described here through Perry Wood sticks to one of the main paths in order to avoid confusion, but it’s well worth exploring it more thoroughly and even if you get lost it’s impossible to stay lost for very long.

Cherry Orchard nature reserve also merits further exploration. Its grassland, scrub and woodland by Duck Brook, provides food and shelter for many species of birds.

Nunnery Wood comprises 50 acres of semi-natural ancient woodland – semi-natural meaning it has been shaped by human activity. It was originally managed for timber but in the Middle Ages much of it was cleared for agriculture. It was later allowed to revert to woodland and timber production resumed.

Nature reserve management still produces timber as a by-product, much of which is used on-site to make such things as benches and sculptures, or allowed to rot, thus providing further wildlife habitat.

Directions

1 Take the waymarked Woodland Trail into Nunnery Wood and follow it as far as a pool. The trail turns right here: instead, keep straight on to pass to the left of the pool, then fork left. After that, take any path going left to the woodland edge. Turn right along the edge until you find access to the grassland surrounding County Hall. Walk past County Hall Lakes and down to Spetchley Road. Cross over and take the cycle route opposite if you prefer to avoid stiles. If you don’t mind stiles turn left instead, then very soon right onto a footpath, just after Aylton Close. The path soon enters a field and goes diagonally across to meet the cycle route (Kilbury Drive).

Turn left and walk to Whittington Road.

2 Cross at the traffic lights and join a footpath. Skirt round the grounds of the RNIB College then go diagonally across a field before descending on a well-trodden path to Middle Battenhall Farm. Turn left on meeting a track, keep straight on at a junction, pass former farm buildings and go under the railway. Go straight on at the next junction, either along the footpath/cycleway or across the adjacent grassland which borders Duck Brook. Whichever route you choose, don’t cross the brook until you’ve passed a school, after which you must cross it before proceeding to Bath Road.

3 Cross over and turn right, then left on Stanley Street. Turn left by the Cherry Orchard Centre, keep straight on at the first junction but turn right at the next, on Waverley Street. After a short distance you’ll find access to grassland on your left. To explore Cherry Orchard Local Nature Reserve, first take a short detour to the left before heading across playing fields, guided by the cathedral tower.

Leave the playing fields at the far right corner, cross a road and walk past a canal basin – you can either go straight on along one side of it or go left to walk round three sides of it. Either way, pass Grist Mill Boatyard to join the towpath by a second basin and walk towards the city centre.

4 Pass under bridge number four to Blockhouse Lock then go through an open gateway to Lock Street. Turn right, then immediately left. Keep straight on until you meet Wyld’s Lane then turn left. Turn left again at Perry Wood Walk and proceed to the wood. Turn right along the edge for a few paces then take a path leading into the wood. Pass a nature reserve sign then turn left on a stepped path. Continue in the same direction when the steps come to an end, keeping close to the woodland edge.

5 Leave Perry Wood at the next exit and walk along a passageway to Guildford Close.

Turn right, then left at the next junction. Turn right on Chelmsford Drive, then left on a footpath opposite Lincoln Green. Turn right before Ronkswood Community Centre and keep straight on along a street, looking for a path on the left which leads to Newtown Green. Go diagonally right to the far end of a hedge and join a well-trodden path leading past a pool and alongside a brook to enter Nunnery Wood.

6 Turn left, keeping to the woodland edge until you come to a wide footbridge made from 10 railway sleepers. Turn right, away from the woodland edge. Turn left at a T-junction and right at the next junction, crossing a footbridge and then immediately forking left. Pass the hospital (visible through the trees) and then turn right by the edge of the wood. Turn right again after crossing another footbridge.

Walk to a cross-path marked by a hedgehog family (sculpture) and turn left. At the next junction, by post number seven, turn left again.

Return to the woodland edge and turn right to the countryside centre.

Fact File

Start: Worcester Countryside Centre, Nunnery Wood, grid ref SO878542.

Length: Five-and-a-half-miles/8.8km.

Maps: OS Explorer 204, OS Landranger 150, any Worcester street atlas or the free walking/cycling map published by the county council.

Terrain: Woodland, grassland, canal towpath, residential streets.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: Two (optional).

Parking: Worcester Countryside Centre.

Buses: The 44 service runs frequently to the Countryside Centre and there are numerous others to the hospital and other points along the route. Also, log on to worcestershire.gov.uk/ bustimetables or 01905 765765.

Refreshments: Available at several points along the way, including the Countryside Centre.

Please note this walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.