I hope you like this inspiring message on this beautiful oak bench (go for a stroll here at Racefield Meadow and enjoy a rest and a view of a beautiful ancient oak tree opposite).
It was made from scratch by our amazing volunteers, and is in many ways tells the story of Worcester Environmental Group, which started off with two volunteers who wanted to make Worcester a better place for us to flourish in a thriving natural environment. From those humble beginnings three years ago, we have achieved a great deal during 2022. An astonishing 2820 hours of time were donated by our volunteers. Can you imagine that?
In 2022 we have:
made and put up hundreds of wildlife habitat products, including a sand martin colony box on Diglis Island
planted 300m of Woodland Trust edible hedge and kept 90%+ of it miraculously alive during the severe drought thanks to the untiring efforts of many WEG volunteers
made and installed 6 beautiful oak benches from scratch along the soon-to-launched Wild about Worcester Way - a 12 mile wildlife corridor connecting 15 of our precious green spaces
coppiced lots of hazel
made loads of log piles (lots of fungi already taking hold)
made a stumpery
made three hibernacula
installed slow worm mats in Aconbury Orchard
maintained heritage orchards for future generations of residents and wildlife
coppiced blackthorn (this resulted in the discovery of the presence of the very rare brown hairstreak butterfly, seen in Worcester for the first time)
created lots of fascinating videos about the nature we all love along part of the Wild about Worcester Way along the River Severn
commissioned interpretation boards for this video project
seen a dozen or so southern marsh orchids appear spontaneously in Trotshill Field where it is managed as a wildflower hay meadow. First time recorded in Worcester
run an incredibly successful primary school art project where 60 winners will have their pictures carved on the way marker posts on the Wild about Worcester Way
worked with Worcester City Council to create several more wildflower verges
worked really hard on the preparation for waymarking the whole of Wild about Worcester Way
several beautiful signs carved from wood
installed four bug hotels in Racefield Meadow
reached out to thousands of people on social media
run a pond monitoring course
run a bug citizen science course
worked closely with the RSPB, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, The Canal and River Trust and the Butterfly Conservation West Midlands group
forged an even deeper and productive working relationship with Worcester City Council, including the training of their operatives
liaised with other similar organisations around the UK
attended a fete and the Worcester Show
last but not least dished up lots of biscuits at outdoor events
