Welcome to an area of outstanding natural beauty

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We’ve been out today for our annual tour around parts of the Malvern Hills National Landscape with members of the MHNL Partnership, including representatives from Parish Councils, Government Agencies, local planning authorities and local communities.

The focus for today’s visit was some of the buildings that were restored last year with financial support from the Historic Buildings Restoration Grant run by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). A medieval threshing barn, a Victorian farmstead and a Herefordshire oast and cider house are examples of the richness of the built environment that have been conserved for the future. The restoration works were also part funded by the owners of these properties.

#farminginprotectedlandscapes … See MoreSee Less

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Bringing old woodlands back into positive management is a key ambition for the National Landscape Partnership. This is especially important for ancient woods which were (partially) cleared and replanted with non-native conifers or other species in the recent past. These sites are known as PAWS – Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites.

Work has begun this week to manage 2 such woods – Colwall Coppice in Colwall (owned by the Malvern Hills Trust) and Hallhouse Coppice in Suckley. Many non-native and diseased trees will be felled and removed from these sites. This will provide space and light to allow new native trees to grow from the seed bank. Some new, appropriate, trees and shrubs will also be planted.

This work will allow these ancient woods to ‘breathe’ again and to develop the sort of diverse structure and ecological richness which they would have had in the past. A more diverse species mix will also make them more resilient in the face of tree disease and climate change.

This work is being supported by the Malvern Hills National Landscape Partnership. … See MoreSee Less