West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has offered her support for a plan to extend a popular nature reserve and return former farming land to its original state.

The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is looking to buy land adjoining its site at Monkwood Green, near Hallow and allow it to return to woodland. The project is one of a number of projects in the area which are improving the natural environment and allowing improved habitats for plants, wildlife and insects.

Monkwood’s records date back over a thousand years and the mix of native and non-native trees has meant that the land is now well known for its wide variety of butterflies.

The Trust manages almost 3,000 acres of land for wildlife in Worcestershire and has kicked off a fund raising drive to fund the land purchase as well as seeking funding from the National Lottery.

Harriett said:

“I’m an enthusiastic member of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and I’ve visited Monkwood many times with my family to enjoy this beautiful green space.

“Every time I visit a primary school, the hottest topic of discussion is how we can do more to protect the environment and it is projects such as this which the children want to see more of.

“I hope that children – and their parents – will want to visit places like this more and actively get involved to help to make our environment better for us, and them.”

“I’m fully supportive of the efforts of the Trust to take on this project and hope to see many more project like this where we allow more natural tree planting and create a better habitat for wildlife and insects.”

Photo: Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Mike Perry and Colin Raven with Harriett Baldwin MP at Monkwood nature reserve