Stratford Area
The Stratford district is a mosaic of
different habitats intertwined by rivers like the Stour, Avon and
Arrow with the meadow-lined Avon running through the famous
Shakespeare's birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon.
One of the best views overlooking
Stratford is the Local Nature Reserve owned by the Stratford
District Council - Welcombe Hills &
Clopton Park which is managed by the Trust. This reserve is
rich and varied in wildlife and has splendid undulating hills with
splendid walks. Other reserves in the Stratford District include Ufton Fields SSSI, Henley Sidings,
Deans Green, River Arrow
LNR, Goldicote Cutting, Grove Hill, Hampton
Wood, Snitterfield Bushes SSSI, Harbury
Spoilbank SSSI, Loxley Church Meadow SSSI and
Radway
Meadows. These offer a rich mosaic of habitats, from disused
limestone railway cuttings and tranquil woodlands with grassy rides
and shady gullies to diverse grasslands and wetlands. The Trust
works in partnership with Stratford District and Warwickshire
County Council on some of these lovely reserves.
View Stratford Reserves in a
©Google map
The Trust has also been successfully
working in partnership on a number of community projects in the
Stratford District:
St Peter's
Church, Wellesbourne
The Trust in partnership with Wellesbourne
in Bloom was successful in securing funding from the Community
Spaces Programme, which aims to help communities improve green open
spaces to enhance people's quality of life. Since receiving the
funding we have been very busy installing the different elements of
the project. Three large planters have been delivered and planted
and there is a new wildlife sensory path offering a safer
alternative for children and wheelchair users to the main drive;
which was installed with the fantastic help of the students from
Morton Morrell College.
We are also installing artwork commissioned
for this project along the lines of "Natures Stained Glassed
Window" by a very talented sculpture Andrew Mckeown who held a
workshop recently with local children to input their ideas for the
design of the artwork. The project will be delivering more
elements over the next few months so watch this space for more
updates.
Alcester Community
Orchard
Last year the Trust working with Alcester
Town Council secured funding from the Stratford Development Fund
and Orbit Heart of England to plant a Community Orchard on the
Conway Fields in Alcester. Over the last few months there has been
a flurry of involvement from various volunteers and groups and the
Orchard containing 50 mixed fruit trees and a host of native wild
plants and flowers including traditional local fruit varieties like
the Wyken Pippin and Warwickshire Dropper. The area has had an all
weather path and seating area installed where people can come and
sit a while in the tranquil surroundings of the orchard over looked
by the River Arrow. Hopefully over the next few years there
with be a variety of fruit for local people to enjoy and the
Community Orchard will go from strength to strength as it develops
and grows.
The Trust would like to thank all the
people involved and those that gave up their time to help with all
the planting of the trees and wildflower plants.
Henley in Arden Pond
Working in partnership with Henley in Arden
Wildlife Society the Trust was successful last year in securing
funding from the Big Lottery Community Wildlife which aims to fund
projects that bring local people together to discover, enjoy or
protect the wildlife in their local area. To add to this we also
received sponsorship from HSBC and a viewing platform has been
installed at the pond in Henley in Arden.
Work on the pond will be being carried out
over the next coming months and a variety of wildlife workshops
will be held in the area for local people to attend. This will
hopefully not only improve the diversity in the area but will also
highlight the different kinds of wildlife that can be found just on
our doorsteps.
