MUCH-needed funding for nature conservation across the county has been provided by the Severn Waste Environmental Fund.

The council’s waste management contractor in Evesham is helping Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to carry out work on four of their nature reserves. 

The work will take place at Feckenham Wylde Moor (Feckenham), Upton Warren (Bromsgrove/Droitwich) the Knapp and Papermill (Malvern) and Wilden Marsh (Stourport).

Helen Woodman, trust reserves team leader, said: “Managing our nature reserves for wildlife and enabling people to visit and enjoy them takes time, effort and money.

“We’re delighted Severn Waste Services, through the environmental charity Welcome to Our Future, has chosen to fund significant works on four flagship reserves.

“The funding will help maintain fences, paths and birdwatching hides as well as undertake practical conservation management such as coppicing, hedgework, pollarding, hay-cutting and grazing.

“The money will also help continue our monitoring programmes - recording the variety and number of species on our reserves is vital to help plan our future management.”

The wet grasslands at Feckenham Wylde Moor need to be grazed by cattle each year to encourage the rich diversity of wildflowers like ragged robin and lady’s smock. The gates, pathways and hides need regular maintenance and repair.

The area’s premier bird-watching nature reserve is the Christopher Cadbury Wetland Reserve at Upton Warren. Managing the islands as well as the upkeep of fences and boardwalks is a year-round task. 

Ian Barber of Severn Waste Services, said: “We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the tust over a number of years and are delighted to be able to make a further contribution towards this ongoing important work in the county.”

For more information about the trust, see www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk. For more information about Severn Waste Services see www.severnwaste.com/.