Biodiversity and the Environment
The parish council is committed to caring for and enhancing biodiversity and the environment in and around our parish. With the help of our volunteer environment officer, we have created a biodiversity policy and have a series of upcoming projects to enhance nature and our enjoyment of it.
Newsletter
A local ‘Biodiversity and Environment Volunteer’ newsletter has been created. You can join the mailing list by emailing rachel.sampson@littlemalvernandwelland-pc.gov.uk and you can find copies of previous newsletters here.
Projects
In accordance with our Biodiversity and Environment Action Plan, we have completed and are working on a number of projects within the parishes. Many of these have been achieved with grant funding from Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust (via their Natural Networks and Treescapes projects schemes), and from Malvern Hills National Landscape. We have also used Parish Council funding and S106 funding from Malvern Hills District Council for footpath improvement projects.
Our Action Plan has four main themes:
- Public Green Spaces
- Water Courses and Ponds
- Footpaths
- Community Engagement
Our BEV newsletter (see above) provides regular updates on these themes and the projects relating to them.
Public Green Spaces
Projects include:
- Planting 500+ new native hedgerow plants & 3000 new native wildflower bulbs & plants
- Creating a beautiful wildflower area in the Recreation Park
- New bird and bat boxes and other wildlife features for Welland village centre
- Reviewing our mowing, hedge cutting and management of our public green spaces to introduce more opportunities for wildlife
- Flora and fungi surveys at Welland Cemetery
Water Courses and Ponds
- Volunteers engaged with the Water Blitz national survey, assessing the quality of local water courses
- Pursers Orchard installed and planted up a pond in the community orchard space
Footpaths
- With S106 funding and grants from Malvern Hills National Landscape, a number of footpath improvement projects have been completed or are planned, including:
- Rosebud Meadow footpath
- Kingston Close to Drake Street
- Pippin Drive to Drake Street
- Hancocks Lane to Gloucester Road car park
- Giffard Drive to Marlbank Farm House (planned)
Community Engagement
- Nature themed sculptures in Welland Cemetery
- Information boards installed in the Cemetery and Pursers Orchard
- Brass Rubbing Nature Trail around Welland
- Family Environment Activity Days – a successful event in Feb 25 and another in Nov 25
- Engagement with school and preschool, via environment activity packs, and engagement and education opportunities
- Engagement with local landowners and organisations to support them with their environmental projects
Biodiversity Policy
The Parish Council have agreed on a Biodiversity Policy which can be viewed below.
Climate Change Statement
The Parish Council have agreed on a Climate Change statement which can be viewed below.
