Enjoy walk around popular nature reserve (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Enjoy walk around popular nature reserve

8:00am Monday 14th January 2013 in News

Guided walk: Devil’s Spittleful nature reserve. Photo: Paul Lane.

NATURE lovers can enjoy a walk around a popular nature reserve between Bewdley and Kidderminster.

The two-hour guided stroll around the Devil’s Spittleful nature reserve will be led by Ben Christie, an officer with conservation charity Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

People can discover more about the restoration work being undertaken at the nature reserve as well as find out about the folklore attached to it, during the walk on January 30.

Mr Christie said: “This is just one in a series of walks to help introduce people to our nature reserves and the valuable countryside we have in our county.

“During the coming months I want to get as many people out into the great outdoors as I can. Guided walks are a brilliant way of finding out more about places on your doorstep.”

He added the wildlife trust had a long-term restoration project at the nature reserve and at Blackstone Farm Fields next to it. Recent restoration work has included clearing the woodland that has grown over the last 50 years.

Mr Christie added: “While we won’t see any of the butterflies, bees or moths at this time of year, there are plenty of other things to look out for.

“Birds such as kestrels and buzzards are particularly prominent at this time of year as they search for small mammals that scurry about in the undergrowth.

“We’ll talk about the fabulous display of poppies that’s been seen for the last few years and learn about why that’s been taking place.

“There’s also the Spittleful, or Spadeful, rock to climb and the legend of how it came to exist to explore.”

The walk takes place at 10am from the Blackstone picnic place car park on the A456. People can book their places by contacting 01905 754919 or emailing ben@worcestershirewildlifetrust.org.