Get out and about (From Worcester News)

Get out and about

12:32pm Monday 11th July 2011 in Country News latest By Mike Pryce

WITH the summer holiday period here – albeit the weather could do with brightening up a bit – the public is being urged to get out and discover Worcestershire’s picturesque countryside.

“We’re fortunate here in Worcestershire to be blessed with so many beautiful places of natural beauty to enjoy,” said John Campion, the county council’s cabinet member for localism and communities.

“The message this year from Worcestershire County Council’s Countryside Service is: ‘Why not find out more and enjoy our great outdoors?’”

The team manages nineteen sites across the county, including two prestigious Green Flag standard country parks, Worcester Woods and Waseley Hills, near Bromsgrove.

Worcester Woods, in Wildwood Drive near County Hall, has two nature reserves, a huge open field ideal for some family fun in the sun, superb walks for mini adventures, 100 acres of woodland and meadows, plus a children’s play area opened last autumn.

Even better, if you’re feeling peckish the on-site award-winning Orchard Café can satisfy appetites large and small with a variety of food and drink with a strong emphasis on locally-sourced, organic and Fairtrade products.

Across the county at Waseley Hills there’s another host of activities waiting for visitors including the skylark and rabbit trails, wildlife identification and kiddies activity packs, fabulous views of the surrounding area, another children’s play-area, a cafe and plenty of space to enjoy a relaxing picnic.

There is also plenty to do at St Wulstan’s local nature reserve, just three miles from Malvern town centre, Kingsford Forest Park, near Wolverley, the Blackstone Riverside Park, south of Bewdley and Hartlebury Common, which is the largest and most important area of heathland remaining in Worcestershire. In addition to all that, let’s not forget the 11 picnic spots maintained by the county council’s team.

Coun Champion added: We’re all rightly proud of the magnificent countryside we’re lucky enough to have here in Worcestershire, which includes brilliant spaces for visitors. We want more and more people across the county who haven’t yet enjoyed one of our award winning country parks or sites to make this summer the time when they start to explore our local great outdoors rather than travelling further afield.”

* To find out more about all of the sites visit worcestershire.gov.uk/count ryside. The website includes maps that can be accessed and printed off, along with details on opening hours.

There’s a dedicated section that includes downloadable leaflets/guides on a variety of walks suitable for beginners to the more experienced.