From book chapters to muddy chapters

3dtotal Publishing are the proud owners of a nature reserve! Just over a year ago we became the stewards of a floodplain meadow in the centre of Worcester. As part of our ongoing commitment to charitable causes we wanted a tangible local project that we could enhance for both wildlife and the community. Chapter Meadows is a 30-acre medieval grazing site and nature reserve located alongside the River Severn. A haven for wildlife and a popular green space for the local community, it provides a calm retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Our first year as stewards has been a busy one! Setting up the company, creating a website, social media, volunteering platforms etc. Initially there were a lot of repairs and maintenance needed to get the site ready for the more exciting projects we had planned. Engaging with the community and stakeholders was also a priority; the people of Worcester are passionate about the meadows and it was so lovely to receive such a warm welcome as the new stewards. Oh, and then there’s the cows! The site is grazed over the summer months and it turns out our cattle are escape artists so there was a lot of cow chasing in the early days.

Our bigger vision for the site is to maintain and enhance it for wildlife and people. We have already arranged a number community volunteering events which have been great fun! We have planted 1,000 new trees, including 200m of new hedgerow and fenced off several rewilding zones in which we will plant more trees along with wildflowers and allow the area to go ungrazed. We have installed bird boxes, bat boxes and new benches that are perfectly positioned to enjoy the beautiful views of the Cathedral. We are also getting local schools and colleges involved and have a week-long event arranged to help us plant a new woodland area of 1,000 trees. We really hope that the children will be proud of their involvement and will come down to the meadows to see their trees grow for years to come.

It's been a fun introduction to floodplain management that has come with its challenges; it’s tricky trying to plan tree planting events in winter, on a floodplain which is underwater for most of the winter! We have learnt to be flexible and respectful of whatever mother nature throws at us and have also purchased taller wellies! With lots more exciting projects planned for the coming months - we’re just hoping the cows are a bit more well behaved and the floods are kind so we can focus on the fun stuff.