Wildlife in the Malvern area through the year, where and when – a Calendar Guide
See below for our Wildlife Calendar Guide. A paper copy is available for members at our Indoor Meetings. If you are unable to be at a meeting and would like a paper or electronic copy, please send an e-mail to and we will arrange for one to be forwarded to you. The Calendar has been compiled by two of our members from details given to them by many other local members or friends, and is accurate as far as we know. If you may be able to add to it for future issues or find that any details are incorrect, we would be very pleased to hear from you!
(OS grid references of car parks are given in brackets)
All year
January to December Dormice, Buzzards, Ravens, Snowdrops, Woodland:
Brockhampton Estate, NT, near Bromyard. Estate open all
year, can park by estate wall along A44. Lower Brockhampton
house open March to December. Refreshments/toilets
available when house is open.
January to December Cultivated gardens, walks: Croome Park, NT. Open all year, times vary. Refreshments/toilets.
Winter
November to March Ancient trees (Oak, Ash, Lime, Black Poplar, Willows):
various footpaths around Leigh Brook (SO 773 528). Contact
Jim on 01886 832802 for details.
January Snowdrops: all along Sapey Brook near Tedstone Delamere
(SO 045 94). No facilities. Access by footpaths. Parking at
Tedstone Delamere and Lower Sapey Churches.
January/February Snowdrops, Crocuses: Birlingham Churchyard (SO 932 432)
Refreshments/toilet at Parish Hall (not at all times).
January/February Snowdrops: around lanes of West Malvern, Eastnor and The
Purlieu.
January/February Snowdrops, Crocuses, Primroses: All Saint's Church, Wells
Road, Malvern Wells.
January to March Snowdrops, Wild Daffodils, Primroses: on lane bank
opposite entrance and on Knapp & Papermill WWT Reserve,
Alfrick Pound (SO 751 520) (take care if walking along the
narrow lane - blind bend and hill). Toilet at warden's house,
steep banks in places on thereserve.
February Primroses: garden bank on right of Wells Road, Malvern
Wells, just before road to Little Malvern Priory
February/March Wild Daffodils: Six Acre Wood (SO 753 471). Footpath access
from West and North Malvern.
February/March Wild Daffodils: north of Bromsberrow (SO 754 354). Footpath
access.
February/March Primroses, Wood Anemones, Violets, Forsythia, cultivated
trees and shrubs: St Wulstan's Nature Reserve, Upper
Welland (SO 783 412). Level metalled path. No toilets. Car
park.
Winter/Spring
March Wild Daffodils: White Leaved Oak, Chase Hill (southern end of
Malvern Hills). Refreshments (pubs) nearby.
March Daffodil weekends: Dymock Woods and Queenswood area.
Teas/toilets at the village hall. See Malvern Gazette for more
details. [Outside our area but well worth a visit.]
March Daffodil Sunday: Madresfield Court, Madresfield.
Refreshments, toilets. Entrance charge. See Malvern Gazette
for more details.
March Ravens and ancient trees: Hanbury Hall estate, National
Trust. [Outside our area but well worth a visit.]
March Star of Bethlehem in flower: Ailshurst Coppice, WWT
reserve. Access by permit only. Contact WWT headquarters,
Lower Smite Farm (tel. 01905 754 919) or Jim (01886
832802).
Spring
April Cowslips: St Wulstan's Nature Reserve, Upper Welland (SO
783 412). Car park.
April (Easter) Spring flowers: Little Malvern Priory. Open Wed./Thurs. pm,
Easter to July Teas/toilets. See Malvern Gazette for further
details.
April Cowslips: roadside verges on Guarlford Road. (Take care if
parking.)
April Cowslips: left roadside verges near Upton Rd/Earls Croome
junction (SO 863 423). (Take care if parking.)
April Cuckoo flower/Lady's Smock: A438 Rye Cross to
Birtsmorton road. (Take care if parking.)
April Warblers: Upton Warren WWT reserve (SO 936 677 and 932
673). [Outside our area but well worth a visit.]
April/ May Bluebells: east side of Ragged Stone Hill (SO 768 367). Park
by church on A438.
April/May Bluebells: west side of Midsummer Hill. Car parking on A438
(SO 758 369) or Gullet Quarry car park (SO 765 382) and
entrance via Deer Park.
April/May Bluebells: Frith Wood, Ledbury (SO 718 394).
April/May Bluebells: Hope End, near Wellington Heath (SO 726 414)
Steep banks. See Malvern Gazette for open days. Entry charge
(for charity). Occasional refreshments.
April/May Bluebells, Wood Anemones, Early Purple Orchids (on bank
in orchard), Kingfishers breeding: Knapp & Papermill
Reserve, Alfrick Pound (SO 751 520).Steep banks in places on
the reserve.Toilet atwarden's house. Parking in layby by bridge
over Leigh Brook or on Reserve car park if open.
April/May Cowslips, Goldilocks, Wood and Dog Violets: Drake Street
Meadow, WWT reserve. Can be viewed from roadside. .Access
by permit only from WWT, Lower Smite Farm.
April/May Spring flowers, especially Bluebells and Wood Anemomes,
Damson blossom: Monkwood WWT and Butterfly
Conservation Reserve, nearHallow (SO 804 607). Car park, no
toilets, wheelchair access.
April/May Linnets, Blackcaps, Whitethroats: Hayslan Avenue playing
fields, Malvern. Footpath access down Sling Lane under
bridge.
April/May Green Hairstreak butterfly: Cother Wood, Croft Bank, West
Malvern (SO 757 467).
Spring/Summer
April to July Skylarks, meadow flowers (incl. Lady’s Smock, Yellow Iris,
Ragged Robin, Common Spotted and Southern Marsh
Orchids + hybrids): Lower Malvern Common, off Poolbrook
Road, Barnards Green, Malvern (SO 786 442). SSSI. Parking
on common along Peachfield Road. Refreshments at Three
Horseshoes, Poolbrook.
May onwards Sessile Oaks, Dragonflies, Damselflies: Langdale Woods
and lake (SO 788 431).
May/June Peregrine Falcons breeding: top of Glovers Needle spire,
centre ofWorcester. Video coverage by RSPB. [Note: check
with RSPB - may not occur every year.]
May/June Wildflower meadows: Melrose Farm Meadows WWT R (SO
816 410). Park on verge near bridge (SO 817 413). Cross road,
access limited to public footpath through reserve.
May/June Wildflower meadow (120 recorded species): Duke of York
WWT Reserve (SO 782 354). Parking 50 m south-east of Duke
of York pub on A438. See WWT reserves guide.
May/June Wildflowers incl. Green-winged Orchids: south of Yorkshire
Grey pub on A38 near Upton upon Severn, through two fields.
Park off road. Follow footpath signs. Refreshments/toilets at
pub.
May/June Green-winged Orchids: Welland Village Green, near Village
Hall (SO 97401). Village Hall occasionally open for toilets.
Refreshments at local pubs.
May to July Meadow flowers (incl. Knapweed, Hay-rattle), Common
spotted and Green-winged Orchids, Dingy skipper
butterfly: Knapp & Papermill Reserve, Alfrick Pound (SO 751
520).
May to July Common Spotted Orchids: Castlemorton Common – low, wet
regions. Parking on common. Refreshments/toilets at Plume of
Feathers and other local pubs.
May to July Heath Spotted Orchids: Ballards Field, Colwall, below ‘The
Kettle Sings’ tearooms/cafe. Parking in the Malvern Hills
Conservators’ car park (pay and display) above the tearooms
(SO 767 421).
May to August Butterflies incl. Marbled White, Skippers; Wildflowers incl.
Green-winged Orchids. Also orchids on grass verge
outside reserve: St Wulstan's Nature Reserve, Upper Welland
(SO 783 412). Car park at reserve.
Summer
June Wildflowers and grasses, White Admiral butterfly:
Micklefield Meadow SSSI, Welland (SO 813 384). Footpath
access from Welland Stone lane.
June/July Glow worms: Brotheridge Green WWT Nature Reserve (SO
817 413). Park on verge near old railway bridge. Access by
steep steps. Also St Wulstan’s Nature Reserve, Upper Welland
(SO 783 412). Car park at reserve.
June to August Purple Hairstreak and White Admiral butterflies;
dragonflies, deer: Monkwood WWT and Butterfly
Conservation Reserves (SO 804 607). Car park, picnic area.
June to August Dragonflies and damselflies incl. White-legged and Black-
tailed Skimmers: pond by River Severn near Ripple (SO 864
376). Driveable track or park carefully and walk.
July/August Dragonflies and Broad-leaved Helleborines: Ravenshill
WoodWoodland Reserve (SO 740 539). Privately owned. Car
park. Open daytime. For times tel. 01886 821661.
July/August Dragonflies and damselflies: Brotheridge Green WWT
Reserve (SO 817 413). Open all the time. Park on verge near
old railway bridge. Access by steep steps.
July/August Marbled White butterfly: first meadow, Tom Holland Walk
(from Hawthorn Lane end). Access by Hawthorn Lane,
Poolbrook. Parking on Poolbrook Common.
July/August Marbled White butterfly: Cotter Wood (Croft Bank), West
Malvern (SO 757 467). Croft Bank Drive, west of Malvern Hills
ridge.
July/August Breeding waders incl. Avocet: Upton Warren WWT Reserve
Moors Pool (freshwater) (SO 936 667); Flashes Pool
(saltwater) (SO 932 673). On A38 opposite Webbs Garden
Centre, Wychbold. [Out of our area but well worth a visit.]
August White admiral butterfly, flying Chafer beetle, hellebores,
Herb Paris, Greater butterfly orchid, Twayblade: Tiddesley
Wood WWT Reserve (SO 929 462). Car park. See reserves
guide for more info.
August Dragonflies and damselflies: Knapp and Papermill WWT
Reserve, Alfrick Pound (SO 751 520). Park in layby by bridge.
August/September Autumn lady's tresses: Castlemorton Common (787 392), on
the left of the Welland road B4208, between Welland and the
‘Plume of Feathers’ pub. Also on Hollybush Common, reached
by a cul-de-sac road on the right off the B4208. The turning is
just north of the road to Golden Valley. Parking on commons,
refreshments at local pubs.
Autumn
Mid September Autumn crocuses: roadside, east end of Hanley Road (SO
834 425). Take care if parking.
October Fungi: Monkwood WWT and Butterfly Conservation Reserves
(SO 804 607). Car park, picnic area. Path can be muddy.
October Fungi: St Wulstan's Nature Reserve, Upper Welland(SO 783
412). Car park at reserve.
October Fungi: forays in various locations. Contact WWT office or see
WWT ‘What's On' sheet.
October/November Spindle trees in fruit: Tiddesley Woods WWT Reserve (SO
929462).