Penorchard Volunteers
29th January, 2010
Stourbridge based volunteers have been amazed at the litter left behind after heavy snowfall earlier this month prompted many to take the opportunity to go sledging.
John Sifford of Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s local group in Stourbridge headed out last week to Penorchard Meadows (between the Clent Hills and Uffmoor Wood) to do some litter picking and was surprised at the amount of debris left behind.
John explained “It took me four hours just to clean up one field. The litter was scattered over a wide area and there were lots of small pieces. There was enough rubbish to fill seven or eight black bin liner bags but I managed to fit it all in my car in the end – I took it straight to the local amenities tip in Stourbridge. Our neighbouring grazier often helps to clear the reserve of the small amounts of litter we usually get but this was something else.
“It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves and 
making the most of the weather but you wouldn’t believe the variety of what I found. There were plastic drinks containers, glass bottles, tin cans, broken plastic sledges, broken plastic greenhouse trays, a broken plastic wheel hub, numerous plastic bags and sheets, two shattered ‘for sale’ signs, a metal no smoking sign, a shattered garage forecourt advertising board, two punctured inflatable beach rings, a broken bodysurfer board, chocolate wrappers, cigarette lighters and more.”
Penorchard Meadows is a 35acre nature reserve and forms part of the largest remaining areas of semi-natural grassland in the county. The meadows are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Old meadow grasses such as crested dog’s-tail are brightened by colourful meadow herbs such as knapweed, eyebright, yellow rattle and common spotted orchid. Damper areas on the reserve support water mint and ragged-robin. Walkers on the footpath that crosses the reserve may see buzzards, ravens, jays and green woodpeckers.
The Stourbridge local group are running a plant surveying project in the meadows, due to start again in the spring. A new monthly Monday work party focussing on habitat management, monitoring, fence repairs and clearing weeds such as ragwort is due to start shortly. They’re on the lookout for more volunteers to join them.
John continued “Our group has got really involved with the meadows in the last twelve months and learnt lots about its history and management. Our surveying project has proved really interesting and we’re always looking for more volunteers to join us – either to record or to take photographs for our records. You don’t need experience – just enthusiasm.
“For now, however, I’ll be heading back there to continue litter picking – all in a days work for a volunteer!”
For information about volunteering at Penorchard contact Claire Dovey, Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Trust on 01905 754919.
More Information
For more media information please contact Wendy Carter, Communications Manager, on 01905 754919
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