SPRING IS IN FULL SWING and wildflower meadows across the county are beginning to blossom.

Not only are these meadows pleasing to the eye, they’re also great for wildlife providing habitats and helping to keep the soil healthy.

However, a spokesperson for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust has urged people to think twice before visiting them.

They said: "We are concerned about the potential damage that additional visitors could cause to our reserves.

"Since lockdown last year, these beautiful but sensitive places, that are the last refuges for some of our most precious wildlife, have seen massive increases in visitors.

"In addition to the impact on the nature reserves themselves, the number of cars travelling to our nature reserves, many of which are in rural locations with limited parking, is causing issues for our neighbours and other road-users. "

However, it's still fantastic that Worcestershire is home to such beautiful meadows and rare species of plant.

Here are just five wildflower meadows that are in Worcestershire- and some more information about the flowers and rare plants that grow in them:

1. Monk Wood, Nr Monkwood Green, Worcester

This historic reserve has been around for over 1000 years and is first recorded in 1240.

It is best know for its lush blanket of bluebell meadows but it is also home to wood anemones.

The wood also attracts plenty of wildlife, including 36 species of butterfly and a variety of birds.

2. The Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve, Alfrick Pound, Worcester


(Facebook/The Knapp and Papermill Nature Reserve)

According to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust website, this nature reserve consists of steep woodlands and rich meadows.

Big Meadow is a hay meadow which boasts a variety of flowers.

Knap weed, ox-eye daisy and yellow rattle are just some of the flowers that bloom here- green-winged and common spotted orchids also grow here.

3. Duke of York and Ryefield Meadows, Malvern

(Facebook/ @hollybushstudios)

This lovely untouched meadow is well-known for its wild daffodils which bloom between March and August.

More than 120 species have been recorded at Duke of York including green-winged orchids, cowslips, great burnet, pepper saxifrage, dyers greenweed and adder’s-tongue fern.

The flower also attracts a range of butterflies and bees to the meadow.

4. Hollybed Farm Meadows, New Road Castlemorton, Malvern

This large nature reserve is home to plenty of wildlife and plants.

Their Far Starling Bank field is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its traditional hay meadow plants that include crested dog’s-tail, common knapweed, meadow vetchling, sweet vernal grass, yellow rattle, goldilocks buttercup, burnet saxifrage and wild onion. 

More locally uncommon species include adder’s-tongue fern, pepper saxifrage, southern marsh orchid and autumn ladies tresses.

5. Tiddesley Wood, Besford Bridge road, Pershore
Worcester News:

(Photo: Bluebells in Tiddesley Wood
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Philip Halling - geograph.org.uk/p/3472887)

The wood is thought to have been around since the last ice age over 6,000 years ago.

The floor of this woodland is carpeted with beautiful bluebells thanks to the work of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

However, they aren’t the only flowers to bloom and their coppice plots are carpeted with wildflowers in spring, with bluebells, wood anemones, violets and cowslips growing here.

Where is your favourite flower meadow in Worcestershire?