A PLAQUE officially marking the safeguarding of Cherry Orchard nature reserve in Diglis, Worcester, was unveiled by volunteers.

The Friends of Diglis Fields joined Worcester City Council assistant ranger Heather Bainbridge and other volunteers to reveal the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge plaque.

Cherry Orchard Local Nature Reserve, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is important to Worcester because of its rich wildlife – not found in other parts of the city.

Ms Bainbridge said: “It is a unique habitat in Worcester. It has wildlife that is not anywhere else, a different collection of everything from its insects to the plants.”

The park is one of eight parks and green open spaces in Worcester which have become protected public areas as part of a national scheme to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

Worcester City Council had the chance to nominate recreational land it owns to be included in the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge, which is led by its patron the Duke of Cambridge. The other Worcester sites, which will all have official plaques installed over the next few weeks, include Power Park in St Peter’s, Cromwell Crescent Park in Red Hill, Warndon Park, Northwick Lido, Offerton Lane Nature Reserve, Oldbury Road Playing Fields and Weyburn Close.

Councillor Matthew Lamb, cabinet member for a cleaner and greener city, said: “Worcester has a fantastic range of parks and open spaces, which really add to local residents’ quality of life. This is a great opportunity to ensure that future generations will be able to exercise and relax in these beautiful havens too.”

Visit qe2fields.com.