At Burlish Meadows, between Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley, two Natural Network grants have enabled Wyre Forest District Council to enhance and restore a former golf course.

Variations in the site’s soil, hydrology and landscape means that Burlish Meadows has a wide diversity of plants that support a variety of wildlife. With funding, the team at Wyre Forest District Council have been able to restore the acid grassland and pond, plant trees and fill in gaps in hedgerows along the boundary, install bird and bat boxes and reinstate public footpaths.

Parts of the old golf course had become a dumping ground for household items, vehicles and other waste materials. Some of this – sand, bricks and crushed concrete - has been retained to provide warm areas of thin soil and bare earth that support insects such as beetles and mining bees as well as basking areas for reptiles.

Paul Allen, Countryside and Technical Services Manager from Wyre Forest District Council, commented “Faced with an uneconomic golf course coming back to Council ownership, Wyre Forest District Council reached out for support from Natural Networks. Their fabulous team helped by providing first rate technical ecological advice that helped us to create wildlife-rich spaces.

“The skies are now filled with colourful butterflies and dragonflies, with the green playing surfaces now dappled with vibrant wildflower colours.

“Natural Networks also helped us to create signage across the stie to help local communities understand the value of the land, and it is now a common to see children playing in these wonderful meadows.

“What a wonderful transformation. Thank you Natural Networks.”

Councillor Tracey Onslow, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Arts and Community Safety said:

“We are grateful to the Natural Networks team for helping us transform a former golf course into Burlish Meadows Nature Reserve for our communities to enjoy. They provided us with technical ecological advice. With this knowledge we’ve been able to convert the sterile fairways into wildlife-rich meadows and ponds that are now bursting with wildlife and wildflowers.

“Natural Networks also helped us with the interpretations boards that explain the story of the reserve and how valuable the land is. It has been a great project to create a green space for the benefit of our residents and visitors alike.”

North Claines Parish Council received funding from the Natural Networks project to transform their newly acquired Bull Meadow into a community open space and haven for nature.

The area was a blank grassy canvas but is now an accessible and diverse wild space with a wetland complex, orchard and native hedgerows. The spoil from the wetland creation was used to create a bund alongside the hedgerow, which has since been planted with hedging trees and bulbs including snowdrops, bluebells and wild daffodils.

800 trees have been planted, both along the hedgerows and within the orchard, and will provide suitable places for nesting birds as well as corridors for wildlife to move around the site. The orchard was planted with local varieties of fruit trees.

Two large trees needed to be felled and the timber from these has been utilised as habitats for deadwood-loving invertebrates and other wildlife across the site. Some was used in buried hibernacula, which provides a winter refuge for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The capping of these hibernaculum, along with newly created bee banks, offer south-facing bare earth, which is perfect for many solitary bees to burrow nests into.

Meg Farmer from North Claines Parish Council said “When the parish council purchased Bull Meadow it became clear from the questionnaire that was sent to all residents that they didn’t want the area to become a sports field or commercially developed.

“A company called Leaves of Green did our concept plan of a beautiful open space for people to enjoy, as well as attracting wildlife, but we didn’t know quite how to achieve this. With the fantastic help of Natural Networks, the dream is becoming reality.

“They have helped us both financially and practically. Their advice and suggestions regarding planting has incorporated all British native plants appropriate for the area and ones that will provide much needed natural habitat for our wonderful wildlife.

“Dragonflies, butterflies, insects are here already and we hope to see and identify much more wildlife. Once established and maturing, this will be a haven for both wildlife and people to enjoy. We are indebted to Natural Networks for all their help.”

Cromwell Crescent Park lies near the southeast edge of Worcester and provides a mini oasis within the surrounding residential areas. Natural Networks funding has helped Worcester City Council to enhance habitats to benefit wildlife as well as make the site welcoming for local people.

Several hibernacula have been created to provide safe areas for slow-worms to shelter and hibernate. Newly created wildflower strips will provide hunting grounds for the slow-worms and small mammals but also pollen and nectar for insects. Bulb planting has added even more colour for local residents and more feeding opportunities for pollinators.

As a result of replacing non-native trees with native varieties, the dead wood from felled trees has been used to create loggeries for invertebrates as well as natural seating for people.

The project has also installed boxes for roosting bats and nesting birds as well as homes for hedgehogs.

Lloyd Griffiths, Worcester City Council’s Director of Operations, Homes and Communities, said “Cromwell Crescent Park is a small park with green open spaces and a play area, and the City Council was keen to improve the facilities it offered for the benefit of the local community.  

“We developed a project that could be part-funded by the Natural Networks funding to promote biodiversity and access.

“This has supported a new woodchip path through a small woodland, a log-pile habitat, a hedgehog house, natural seating, new trees, shrub and bulb planting, wildflower meadows and interpretation boards. The project was completed in late spring 2023 with an open day held in June.”

Eckington Community Fields is a new three hectare community green space to the north of village. The parish council received Natural Networks funding to create an attractive, natural recreational space for local residents whilst boosting the value of the site for wildlife.

More than 1900 native trees, shrubs and hedgerow plants have been planted  and a new orchard of Worcestershire varieties of fruit trees has been created.

The meadow has been sown with native wildflower seeds and a seasonally wet swale has been created to provide different microclimates for invertebrates, birds and small mammals.

Bird and bat boxes have been installed across the site and posts for nesting solitary bees have also been added.

An all-weather accessible path has been created for visitors to the site that also links to the adjacent cemetery and garden of reflection.

Lynne Yapp from Eckington Parish Council said “With the help of grant funding from Natural Networks we have been able to ‘kick start’ our project with an initial scheme that includes ground-levelling, grass and wildflower seeding, tree and hedge planting and new pathways. 

“Taking on board their recommendations and guidance, we have also created a natural habitat for fauna and wildlife. We are looking to open up the space to the community, and beyond, in August this year. 

“The Natural Networks team have been most supportive in helping us navigate a challenging process that’s enabled us deliver this exciting project; we look forward to working with them again on future plans to improve the area still further to attract wildlife in to our area.” 

The Friends of Feckenham Church were keen to enhance the biodiversity of the church and surrounding village and received funding from the Natural Networks project to undertake several pieces of work.

A number of ash and conifer trees were removed for health and safety reasons and were replaced with apple and plum fruit trees. Much of the timber was retained on site and used to create log piles for invertebrates and overwintering reptiles.

19 bird and bat boxes as well as a hedgehog house were installed across the site. Following advice, management of the grassland around the churchyard was altered to ensure large wildflower-rich areas compliment the shorter lawned areas and help to support the wildlife using the boxes.

More than 5000 bulbs and plug plants were added across the church site and in the village including primroses, wild daffodils, knapweed, field scabious and bird’s-foot trefoil.

The predominantly blackthorn hedge around the northern edge of the moat of Feckenham Royal Manor is now sensitively managed, providing a vital habitat for nesting birds as well as for the rare brown hairstreak butterfly.

Jeff Mathews from the Friends of Feckenham church said “We were determined as a village, as a whole community, to do something across the area, joining up various groups and landowners into a combined approach to support wildlife and biodiversity.

“We couldn’t have achieved the ambitious programme without the Natural Networks team; their expertise and guidance and the welcome funding was fundamental.”

The first Natural Networks project at Fulford Heath Golf Course took place in 2021 with the planting of native trees and bulbs as well as the creation of wildflower strips across the course.

The Fulford Heath team were keen to continue helping wildlife that they asked the Natural Networks team for more help in 2022. A new ditch and pond have since been created; the new natural ditch replacing a concrete slab lined predecessor. This banks of this new ditch are lined with wildflowers such as ragged robin, meadowsweet, red campion and ox-eye daisy.

At the edge of the 15^th fairway, a steep-sided pond was enlarged and given shallow sloping edges that were planted with a wide variety of plants such as water mint, yellow flag iris, water forget-me-not and marsh marigold.

The club now paves the way for wildlife-friendly golf courses in Worcestershire.

Gill Hazelwood from Fulford Heath Golf Course said “Fulford Heath Golf Club has a long history of striving to enhance the biodiversity of our course, such as the inclusion of wildflowers, installing bird boxes, bug houses and more.

“It is, of course, a balancing act trying to meet the needs of the sport and wanting to help with biodiversity. When we were offered an opportunity to seek funding and obtain expert advice to further enhance the biodiversity of the golf course, we jumped at the chance.

“The excellent recommendations of the biodiversity enhancement assessment undertaken by the Natural Networks team gave detailed expert advice. As a result we have been able to plant more native trees, bulbs, wildflowers, create shallow ponds and a tiered extension to a very deep pond to develop a wetland with new aquatic plants. 

“Whilst we have always attracted a variety of wildlife, we have noticed more aquatic birds and bees. This project has greatly improved our golf course, much to the delight of our members and also members of the public who have access to two public footpaths on the course.”  

Honeybourne Parish Council approached the Natural Networks team for advice on establishing a more diverse wildflower meadow on The Leys playing field in order to benefit wildlife and for the enjoyment of local people.

In early spring 2023 the meadow was cut and the ground scarified in order to sow native wildflower seeds onto patches of bare earth. This early cut and removal of the cuttings allowed an unexpected show of cowslips that had previously been overwhelmed by long grass.

10 fruit trees of local varieties were planted in one corner, providing blossom for pollinators and fruit for local residents.

Members of the Honeybourne community came out to help plant shade-tolerant bulbs under the canopy of existing trees and further diversity was gained in wetter areas by planting wildflowers, such as betony and ragged robin, that thrive in damp conditions.

Bird, bat and bee boxes were installed across the site and advice given on future management to maximise the benefits to wildlife.

Linda Stanton from Honeybourne Parish Council said “Following the successful grant funding from Natural Networks, the Parish Council was able to create a wildflower meadow at The Leys, which will hopefully make a significant positive impact on the wildlife of the area.   

“The new wildflower meadow in Honeybourne has been well supported by residents, who have been enjoying walking on the new paths that have been laid out. 

“The Parish Council would not have been able to achieve this project without guidance from the Natural Networks team. The team have supported us from the start of the funding application process and assisted with the planting and installation of nesting boxes and bee hotels. We could not have done it without their guidance.”

Malvern Hills District Council received funding from the Natural Networks project to improve a small woodland off Goodson Road for both wildlife and people.

There has been woodland on the site for at least 200 years and it contains several species of trees and plants (including wild service tree, wild garlic, wood anemone and dog’s mercury) that suggest it has been in existence much longer.

The funding enabled the coppicing and pollarding of small trees and cutting back of bramble along the main pathways to allow more light to reach the woodland floor. The timber and brash resulting from this work have been used to create dead hedges that provide dense habitat for wildlife and guide people towards official paths across the site.

In addition, bulbs and other plants have been planted alongside these paths to boost diversity and provide pollen and nectar for insects across the seasons.

The onsite ditch has been desilted and reprofiled to enable it to hold more water for longer and to provide space for plants that thrive in damp and boggy conditions.

Alistair Pounder, Biodiversity Officer from Malvern Hills District Council said “Malvern Hills District Council wanted to enhance Covid Memorial Wood for the benefit of residents to sustainably enjoy nature on their doorstep. We aimed to increase species and structural diversity in the woodland and wetland through creation of ecotones, stream enhancements, habitat creation and planting of native wildflowers. 

“Natural Networks provided ecological guidance and funding, allowing us to work with the local community to make the right environmental enhancements in the right places.

“Feedback from visitors about the project has been unanimously positive and we were all thrilled to see rare native wild service trees emerge from the previously overcrowded tree cover as well as cinnabar moths fluttering along newly cleared woodland margins.”

In January 2023 North Worcestershire Water Management received funding from Natural Networks for habitat improvements along the Millennium Way in Catshill.

Work took place on the Battlefield Brook (a Local Wildlife Site), a silted ditch channel and a woodland that surrounds both features. The quantity and quality of wetland habitat has been increased and the work will also help to alleviate localised flooding for local residents.

A shallow pond has been created to link the ditch with the brook, which will help with connectivity for wildlife as well as increase the capacity of the area to hold water in times of heavy rain and peak flow.

Vertical banks for water vole burrows have been created. The Battlefield Brook is one of only a handful of places in the county where water voles still survive.

Management of overhanging trees has taken place and wood from limbs that were removed has been recycled into habitat piles for wildlife. Native wildflower planting has taken place within both the wetland and woodland areas and bird and bat boxes have also been installed.

Fiona McIntosh from North Worcestershire Water Management commented “Our main aim at Millennium Way was to reduce the risk of flooding to the well-used path alongside the Battlefield Brook whilst also enhancing the watercourse and adjacent area. 

“Match-funding from Natural Networks and working in a partnership with the County and Parish Councils enabled the project to go ahead. 

“The report from the Natural Networks team helped to influence our plans to make it as wildlife-friendly as possible.  The project prevented flooding of the path just a few days after completion and we’ll be keeping an eye out for birds using the nest boxes as well as the elusive water voles.”

Formerly part of Kempsey House’s 19^th century ornamental gardens, The Rocky is now a small public park in Kempsey.

Kempsey Parish Council gained Natural Networks funding to improve the space for local wildlife and to eradicate the invasive Himalayan balsam on the Hatfield Brook that flows through the park.

The community got involved in clearing litter from the site and removing the Himalayan balsam (this is an ongoing task for them) as well as planting over 150 native bulbs and wetland plug plants.

Willow and alder trees that were lining the brook were pollarded to let light into the brook. This involves cutting the trees at around head height, which removes some of the weight from the trees but allows them to regrow.

Bird boxes, a tawny owl box and bat boxes were also installed across the site.

Neil Stevens from Kempsey Parish Council said “The help we received from Natural Networks enabled us to clear areas of Himalayan balsam from The Rocky, carry out some pollarding and also plant a number of native species to help aid biodiversity. 

“We also had a visit from Natural Networks personnel who gave us valuable advice and guidance to help us maintain and improve The Rocky for all of our parishioners.”