Castlemorton Common
Malvern U3A Natural History Group
 
Castlemorton Common lies on the western side of the Malvern Hills, just west of the village of Welland. This book addresses the area that is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), the first in Worcestershire. The designation initially was for its flora, but in reality it has a mosaic of different habitats. Covering an area of nearly 80 hectares (200 acres) it is managed by the Malvern Hills Trust (MHT), formally known as the Malvern Hills Conservators. This book was produced by the Malvern U3A Natural History group, bringing together the results of nearly sixty field trips. It includes many pictures taken by members of the group. The book is A5 with nearly 100 pages and many colour pictures.
 
It is split into three distinct sections. The first looks at the history, landscape, habitats and geology of the area. The underlying geology influences the habitats, many of which have changed little in recent times. The second section details what the naturalist can see each month. It is written so that even a newcomer should find something of interest to look for and find. The final section is a more in-depth look at particular areas of interest. Also included are the more unusual finds. A study of the two streams produced some interesting results, some true citizen science. Sections on birds and butterflies are perhaps more popular. We were surprised how good the Common was for fungi, this has its own section. Ephemeral ponds often feature in books on the nature of the Common, there is a short section on them. And finally a section on galls.