Pershore is fortunate to include an array of open green spaces and recreational grounds.
King George’s Field is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic, play a friendly game of football or take a moment to relax. Keeping the River Avon on your right hand side, walk towards Wyre Piddle into the Southern Meadow of Avon Meadows (5 minutes from the town centre); a riverside Local Nature Reserve and wetland, which helps to prevent flooding. Avon Meadows is home to a number of water birds and other wildlife. There are numerous footpaths in the area and a boardwalk runs through the middle of the wetland so that visitors can get close up to the wildlife. Some of the paths are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
From the High Street, walk down Church Street and take a left into St Andrews Gardens. A lovely space to sit and watch the world go by. St Andrews Gardens are managed by Pershore Town Council. Under an initiative led by the Biodiversity group, some of the area is being allowed to grow wild to protect wildlife and enhance biodiversity.
Opposite St Andrews Gardens, you will find the gorgeous Abbey Park. Originally the Abbey Grounds, the park is very close to the main part of the town and provides a fresh green setting for this medieval but still vibrant Abbey.
The park has lovely mature trees, plenty of open grass area and a Victorian style bandstand, home to ‘Bands in the Park’ throughout the summer months. There is a children’s play area, a children’s water play area and also a skate park.
Near the main entrance you will find The Memorial Garden, a small circular area, funded by the Royal Naval Association, commemorating the fallen, and the impressive ‘Warhorse’ statue, constructed by a local blacksmith solely from horseshoes.
Behind the bowling club, you will find the Community Orchard, where a large variety of fruit trees have been planted by local school children, and the wetland habitat where the monks may have had fish ponds in earlier times. The boardwalk with attractive carvings allows visitors to view this habitat without getting wet feet!
Moving towards the north of the town, you will find the delightful Tiddesley Woods. This large woodland was once an enclosed deer park and was previously owned by the Abbots of Pershore Abbey and local nobility as well as the Forestry Commission.
The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust bought the wood because of its outstanding importance as an ancient woodland with the ultimate aim of restoring it to its former condition. Tiddesley Wood is a site of special scientific interest, and is where the Pershore Egg Plum was discovered.
There is a military firing range in the South West corner. Do not enter the area marked by red flags.
May is the month to visit to see the spectacular bluebells covering vast areas of the woodlands. Car parking is available via Rebecca Road, and dogs are permitted on leads.
At the southern end of Pershore, Pershore Horticultural College is set in beautiful grounds just outside the town and has an excellent garden centre and plant nurseries which are both open to the public. The college boasts an Alpine garden and is a member of the Alpine Garden society (also a member of the RHS.)
Pershore is surrounded by beautiful countryside which offers the visitor something different every season.
Late January to mid February, a visit to Birlingham Village Churchyard to see the snowdrops and crocuses is a sight not to be missed.
In Spring, cycle or drive ‘The Blossom Trail’ with its dazzling display of pink and white blossom from plum, pear, apple and damson trees. Contact us for a copy of the Blossom Trail Guide.
Explore the local villages in the heart of the countryside and plan a stay during the many Open Garden events in Spring and Summer. For details of these, visit the National Garden Scheme. Many private gardens are open for charity under this scheme. Pop into the Visitor Information Centre for a leaflet. Spetchley Gardens just a few miles away from Pershore is a plantsman’s paradise with 30 acres of Victorian gardens and a deer park, created by successive generations of the Berkley family.
In early July the Delphinium Flower Field (known locally as The Confetti Fields) at Wick is open to the public. Please check their website for opening times. The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company grow the flowers and harvest the petals to be used as confetti at weddings. The company are recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as having had the world’s largest carpet of flowers.
In Autumn visit Croome Park National Trust to see the trees in their spectacular Autumn colours or time your visit to coincide with one of Croome Parks many events. Croome Court is open all year round, visit to see the landscaped gardens designed by ‘Capability’ Brown.
The privately owned Walled Gardens are a key part of Croome’s landscape also designed by ‘Capability’ Brown. Although national trust look after the rest of the parkland, the walled gardens are owned by Chris and Karen Cronin who acquired it separately and rescued it from ruin in the year 2000.
They have restored many of the buildings, large greenhouses and underground tunnels with great care and attention but much more work is still to be carried out with the help of a team of volunteers and gardeners. Admission fee is additional to entrance to Croome Court, which goes towards the continued restoration of the walled gardens.
There are a number of National Trust and English Heritage properties in the area.
Whatever the season, climb to the top of Bredon Hill and take in the views of the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds.
