DroitwichCommunity Woods

Trail GuideWorcestershire

Protecting Wildlife for the future

Get Involved In Your LocalNature Reserve

You can get involved in looking after yourlocal nature reserve in several ways.

Join in on the practical conservation taskseach week, or we also run a weekend

task once a month.

You will have the opportunity to try out avariety of tasks which could include

coppicing, footpath maintenance or wildlifemonitoring.

You do not need to have any previouspractical experience as tools and instructionare provided. You will need suitable outdoorclothing and footwear. For further details on

these practical tasks please contactWorcestershire Wildlife Trust.

Access to Nature ReserveDroitwich Community Woods is a great place

to take a healthy walk and gain someexercise. Access on foot to the site is markedon the reserve map. These include entrances

off Chawson Lane and Ombersley Way.

The reserve can be reached from the towncentre by walking along the canal towpath. Whilst there is no marked car park for the

reserve, there is limited parking available onOmbersley Way close to the playing field.

For any queries regarding this Reserveplease contact Client Services at Wychavon

District Council on 01386 565018.

This is one of over 70 nature reservesowned or cared for by Worcestershire

Wildlife Trust that form part of our vision fora Living Landscape for Worcestershire. Byworking with other landowners, managers

and communities we aim to restore,recreate and reconnect fragmented natural

habitats to achieve a landscape wherewildlife can flourish and people can lead

happier and healthier lives.

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Lower SmiteFarm, Smite Hill, Hindlip,

Worcester, WR3 8SZ.Tel: 01905 754919 Fax: 01905 755868

enquiries@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org

www.worcswildlifetrust.co.uk

Photo credits:Dan Watts, Ruth Bourne, Karen Summers,

Steve Bloomfield, Debs Bull, Zoe Stevens, John Holder.

Designed by

Registered in England as a charity and a company limited byguarantee. Charity No 256618 Company No 929044

On the doorstep of many Droitwich Sparesidents is Droitwich Community Woods. This75 acre nature reserve is managed byWorcestershire Wildlife Trust in partnership withWychavon District Council. It is a wonderful areaof woodland, meadows, grassland and hedgebanks, with the Droitwich Barge Canal and theSalwarpe River both running through the reserve.It is easily accessible on foot, only about a milefrom the town centre. Volunteers play a key rolein maintaining this mosaic of habitats for wildlifeto live in and for people to enjoy.

Salwarpe ValleyA legacy of the DroitwichSpa salt industryremains in the form ofthe Salwarpe Valley saltmarsh, which coveredthe lower sections of theBriar Hill Coppice part ofthe reserve. This resultsin salt tolerant(halophytic) plantsoccurring here, includingdittander.

There are some non-native, invasive speciesfound on the siteincluding Japaneseknotweed andHimalayan balsam,which we would like toeradicate as theythreaten the native flora.

TheWoodlandThis part of thereserve is a mass ofcolour in the spring,first with the cowslipsand then bluebells.Summer gives uswillows and poplars.As you walk throughyou may seedragonflies andbutterflies or even akingfisher by thewater. Birds such asthe blue tit and greattit use the nestingboxes we have put inthis part of thereserve.

Nativebluebells

The GrasslandsThese are rich in spiders andinsects such as ground beetleswhich make excellent food for birdsand small mammals such asshrews.

Hay MeadowThe wet grassland area in Hay Meadowby the river is an important site for plantsincluding meadowsweet, purple loosestrife and great willowherb. To managethis area we mow only one third of thegrass each year. Insects still have coverin the long vegetation and cuttingincreases flowers in the meadow.Butterflies such as the brimstone areattracted to the nectar.

MarbledWhite

Dittander

Gorsey BankThis area of the reserve has old oak treeswhich are home to many insects. If you arelucky you might catch a glimpse of thepurple hairstreak butterfly high in the oakcanopy. You can also see the perry peartrees which are much older than most ofthe woodland here.

Did you know...During the summer monthsyou’ll be sure to finddragonflies and damselfliesalong the river and canal.The azure damselfly(pictured) is the fourth mostcommon species ofdamselfly found inWorcestershire. They stay around the bankand vegetation, rarely goingout above the water.

Meadowsweet is a whiteflowering plant foundeach summer in theareas of wet grasslandalong the River Salwarpe.It is strong smelling and inmedieval times was usedto scent pillows.

Species such as otter (pictured) willonly become resident if the water qualityof the river or canal is good. They don’tlive in polluted or disturbed waters. It ishoped that these beautiful mammals willone day set up home in our naturereserve. Keep a look out!

Kingfishers eat fish andaquatic insects. They areoccasionally sightedalong the canal and riverhere. They haveunmistakable iridescentfeathers that can appearto be bright blue or green.

Coppicing is a traditionalmethod of managingtrees by cutting downyoung stems to nearground level. Regularlycoppiced trees will live alot longer and the differentstages of coppicing in thewood create a variety ofhabitats for wildlife.

Whatever the season there is always wildlife activity for you

to spot as you walk through the nature reserve.

Don’t forget your binoculars or to bring a camera with you!