Francis Flanagan, Natural England advisor for the Wyre Forest spoke on “Heathland Restoration - Hartlebury Common a case study”.

Hartlebury Common is a bi-product of human activity over millennia in a stressed, impoverished environment which is reflected in a flora and fauna specialised to this habitat.

Heathland originates from clearing vegetation for forage, bedding and grazing and has declined by 85 per cent over the past two centuries.

It is threatened locally by nitrogen deposition from the atmosphere resulting in a change from heathland to acid grassland.

The importance of burrowing bees and wasps on Hartlebury Common was mentioned and lower plants, fungi and vascular plants giving large scale mosaics of heathland with bare sand and early succession of flora outlined. Natural England advise and support Worcestershire County Council, the landowner in the restoration work of this now improving site of special scientific interest.

The potential reinstatement of the water level in the bog was widely discussed by the speaker and audience as was more remedial work the audience would like to see carried out on Hartlebury Common.

On Monday September 8 Danny Arnold, Chairman of Teme Valley Wildlife will speak on “Birds of the Teme Valley”

at 8pm at Stourport Sports’ Club, Kinsgway DY13 8BQ (opposite Stourport High School), cost £3.

Go to www.hartleburycommon.org.uk or phone Dr Joy M Rooney on 01299 877275 for further information.