Marshlands Meadow

This small meadow has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its floristic diversity.   The meadow is grazed which allows the uncommon great burnet to grow here in profusion along with adder’s-tongue fern, bird’s-foot trefoil, meadowsweet and meadow buttercup.

Grassland butterflies such as meadow brown and common blue thrive here.

Please note that access is only by special permit from the Trust’s office at Lower Smite Farm on 01905 754919.

Flagship Nature Reserves

This is one of a number of grasslands and one orchard that make up one of 13 flagship reserves.We believe that a landscape-scale approach to wildlife conservation is essential. Wildlife needs space to adapt and move to cope with the consequences of climate change. Practically, this means that to deliver our biodiversity vision, we need to develop a coherent network of large areas linked by corridors that can provide benefits for people as well as for biodiversity.

Why are the South West Meadows a Flagship Reserve?

In a pastoral landscape these scattered sites demonstrate how important each sensitively managed piece of land has become as part of a network of sites that must be increased for people and wildlife to benefit.  We will use them to demonstrate the importance of protecting the existing wildlife value and encourage other land owners to manage their land and hedgerows less intensively.

These 7 small reserves lie within Natural England’s Severn and Avon Vales Landscape Area, and within the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Malvern Chase Living Landscape.