Introduction

Unfortunately, Worcestershire's Nature reserves and other wild places suitable for birdwatching are poorly provided with disabled access. This survey aims to highlight sites away from formal reserves suitable for the disabled. The survey will take a couple of years to complete and at this stage is very much “work in progress”. If you know of any good sites, please let me know.

Sandy Saunders

I have used a code to indicate the difficulty of each site. The code is based on the 3 accessibility levels used by the DBA and a further two aimed at those with an electric scooter or significant assistance. The code is aimed at wheelchairs, but will give a good guide to those who can walk, but have limited mobility. Please note that these levels assume dry ground.

Difficulty level:-

1. Accessible to all wheelchair users including those travelling independently..

2. Accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance., easy going for an electric scooter.

3. Accessible to a wheelchair user able to walk short distances and up at least three steps, reasonable for an electric scooter.

4. Just about accessible, for wheelchairs with a strong “pusher” or an electric scooter with good stability.

5. Adventurous going, for electric scooters with good stability and someone to assist at the tricky bits.

The Malvern Hills

At first sight, the Malvern Hills look a bit of a no-go area for the disabled, but my wife and mother have had a number of trips near the tops and seen some interesting birds. The best time for birding is early in the morning and the hills can become quite busy with walkers at weekends and bank holidays in the summer.

Worcestershire - The Malvern Hills - British Camp area

Owned by the Malvern Hills Conservators

A good starting point is the path leading from the car park (SO763405) at British Camp which goes between the Hill Fort and the reservoir. There two starts to the path, the one at the bottom of the car park is the best, but even there is difficulty 5 at the start because of the steepness of the path for the first 100 metres or so which requires a good quality scooter or a bit of assistance. Thereafter the path, which is generally exposed stone, becomes difficulty 3 or 4. It is possible to continue to Hangman’s Hill, although the difficulty becomes 5 again towards the end. The views are excellent.

Birds – Buzzard, Kestrel, Raven, Meadow Pipit, various Warblers. See the Malvern Hills Conservators website

Other wildlife – Butterflies (including Small Heath, Small Copper), Fungi, Flowers.

Worcestershire - The Malvern Hills – Castlemorton and Hollybed Commons

Owned by the Malvern Hills Conservators

Castlemorton Common (SO790393) can be a bit of a quagmire, particularly in winter, but sometimes even in summer. However there is a good paved road which penetrates fairly well in and has little motor traffic allowing easy access with a difficulty level of 1. Turn right off the B4208 about 500 metres south of Welland village onto the asphalted track and park on the grass. The track then continues for the best part of a kilometre. The upper parts of Castlemorton Common can be reached from the car park at Berrow Downs (SO766382). There are various grass and stone surfaced tracks here with difficulty levels of 3 to 5.

Birds – Turtle Dove (now rare), Stonechat, Green Woodpecker, Warblers. See the Malvern Hills Conservators website

Other wildlife – Butterflies (including Marbled White, but not easily seen from track

Hollybed Common (SO775371) is similar to Castlemorton Common, but more compact. Park somewhere near the Mill Pond and there are various grass surfaced paths with difficulty levels 3 or 4.

Birds and wildlife as Castlemorton Common, but can be better for Turtle Dove.

Worcestershire - The Malvern Hills – Easy access path

Owned by the Malvern Hills Conservators

This path has been introduced by the Malvern Hills Conservators to improve access for disabled people and details can be found on their website.

There are two disabled car parking spots and a gently rising path leads up to the ridge line of the hills. Difficulty level 1 at this point. Once beyond this point the difficulty level rises, with one steep stretch taking the level to 4, but otherwise it is possible to continue for about a mile northwards on a reasonable surface for electric scooters.

Birds – Not the best place on the hills for birds as it is a very popular part with walkers, but the common birds such as Buzzard, Raven, Meadow Pipit etc. can usually be seen. See the Malvern Hills Conservators website

Other sites in Worcestershire

Worcestershire – Upton Warren

Owned by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

This is Worcestershire’s premier birdwatching site and has produced a series of rarities over the years. Sadly, no great effort has been made to help disabled people and what access there is comes more or less by pure chance. The reserve is divided into two parts, the Moors Pool and the Flashes.

The Flashes are more or less inaccessible for disabled people, difficulty 5. Parking is available at the sailing club (SO932672) which is accessed on the opposite side of the roundabout to Webb's Garden Centre, the path then runs round the side of the sailing lake and is uneven and gravelly in places. A small set of awkward steps (signposted) then need to negotiated, followed by a relatively easy boardwalk which gives access to one little used hide, the boardwalk continues and turns into a (usually) muddy path. The path is fairly flat and passable when dry. There are two further hides, both accessible up a set of steps numbering about a dozen. The first hide gives views to the feeding station and the second general views over the Flashes.

The Moors Pool is slightly more accessible. Access is by a small lane leading off the A38 at SO936677. This leads to a small car park on the left immediately after the sleeping policeman. There are four hides, a small one near the car park having half a dozen steps and looking over a small reed-bed. Another, larger, hide can be found by following down the lane and bearing right round the lake, but is very difficult to access for disabled people. By taking the path opposite the car park two hides can be found. The path can be muddy, but is usually passable for a wheelchair, difficulty 1 or 2 when muddy. The first (concrete) hide is accessible for a wheelchair and is adapted for their use. However the views are not as good as from the two main hides and vegetation sometimes grows up in front of it. The main hide is up a set of 15 steps and gives excellent views of the Moors Pool and a good feeding station.

Andy Thomas’ excellent website gives a good description of the birds to be found.

Worcestershire – Grimley

Owned by Tarmac Ltd

The site is divided into two parts, the old workings and the new workings. The new workings are generally the most interesting, although the old workings have thrown up rarities like Spotted Crake in the past. However they are now becoming overgrown and are not as accessible as before. So this concentrates on the new workings.

The new workings (SO834594) are formed from gravel extraction, which is still in progress. They attract a wide variety of water birds, particularly in winter and on migration. The centre of the water is quite deep and thus attracts diving ducks and grebes, but there are fringes which attract dabbling ducks and waders. This site is potentially as good as Upton Warren, but is much less watched apart from a few stalwarts.

At present access is poor for disabled people. From Grimley village, proceed up Camp Lane towards the Camp House Inn, park on the grass verge at the top of the track going down towards the river and the Inn. Then proceed back up the lane towards Grimley village to the black corrugated iron barn on the left opposite the farm house. Here there is a stile, which is the only significant impediment to disabled people, from this go 10 metres to the other side of the barn to view the entire workings. A local enthusiast keeps a notice board here which has information on the birds to be seen and the latest sightings.

There are plans by Tarmac, I believe, to build a proper hide with parking on the site of the barn, which will be demolished. Hopefully this will include provision for disabled people. This report will be amended when it happens.