Plants are essential to everyone's lives. Welcome to Plantlife.
Upton Ham
Meadow cranesbill at Upton Ham © Simon Williams/Plantlife
Location: Little Malvern, Worcestershire.
Grid Reference: SO 860 400
Unimproved hay meadows of this type provide idea conditions for wild flowers to flourish. However, they are now extremely scarce throughout Britain, with over 98% of wild flower meadows having been destroyed in England and Wales since the 1930s.
The traditional pattern of management is still employed at Upton Ham, with the meadows being cut for hay in the summer and then grazed.
The importance of these meadows for wildlife has been acknowledged by their designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Wildflowers at the reserve
WHAT TO SEE AND WHEN
April: wood anemone
May: meadow buttercup
June: common meadow-rue, narrow-leaved water-dropwort
July: meadow crane's-bill, great burnet, pepper-saxifrage, common bistort, parsley water-dropwort
September: meadow saffron
Species found in the meadows include great burnet, meadow foxtail, red fescue, meadow saffron, narrow-leaved water-dropwort, mousetail, and the unusual small-flowered winter-cress on the bare banks of the Severn.
They are also important for breeding waders including redshank and curlew.
Directions
Click here to download a map of the reserve.
From the bridge in Upton-upon-Severn, follow the A4104 towards Little Malvern. On leaving the town, turn left, just past the church, into Minge lane. Walk down Minge Lane until you reach a right hand turning, into Laburnam Walk, with a dirt track ahead. Access to the reserve is via this track. The nearest train station is Great Malvern, which is six miles from the reserve. Visitors should keep to the footpaths and access track. Other areas of the reserve are only accessible on special Open Days.
-
Related habitats
-
_Beth_Newman-Plantlife_lo-res-70x90.jpg)
Grassland
More than any other habitat, grasslands define the ...
-