A NEW natural wild habitat and pathway are being created at Riverside Meadows in Stourport.
Wyre Forest District Council is carrying out the work thanks to a grant from the Natural Networks programme which has received funding from UK Government.
The project will enhance the local environment and improve accessibility and it will also prevent standing water remaining on a section of the pathway for weeks after floodwaters recede.
The problem is due to the clay soil having limited drainage capacity. The new project will be an expansion to an existing wild area created by the council’s countryside team. This was developed to stop the overflow car park from being flooded into the spring and summer but retain some of the important wetland habitat. It has worked well apart from on one section of pathway.
Work started on Monday and the new pathway will avoid the low-lying section.
It will make the area more accessible and enjoyable for visitors, even during wet periods.
Additionally, a wetland wildflower seed mix will be planted in the wild habitat area, for the benefit of native pollinators. The construction work is planned to be completed before the field becomes too wet.
Coun Tracey Onslow, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture, Leisure, Arts, and Community Safety, said: “This is another great project by our countryside team.
“We want to make our reserves and open spaces more accessible and thanks to this funding we are able to make these improvements to Stourport Riverside.”
The rest of the field will remain open during the construction works.
