Avon Meadows Community Wetlands and Local Nature Reserve is often simply known as Pershore Wetlands.
After the devastating floods in 2007, The community wetland was created to help reduce the impact of any future floods that come from too much surface water.
The project to create the wetlands was developed jointly by Pershore Town Council, Wychavon District Council and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. Out of this partnership project the Friends of Avon Meadows were formed, a local community volunteer group who continue to support the management of Avon Meadows.
How to find Avon Meadows
Nestling on the bank of the River Avon, you can find the nature reserve only a 5 minute walk from the town centre, with one of the easiest access points being from King George's Field, just behind the Football Club.
Parking is often only available during spring and summer, because the car park forms part of the flooding scheme for Pershore, it's often under water in winter.
Criss-crossed by footpaths and boardwalks, Avon Meadows is a wonderful place to get away from it all, relax and reconnect with nature, without having to travel far from home. 
The reed beds aren't just great for wildlife, they perform an important function for the town too. The wetlands are fed by a pipe that takes surface water run off from nearby housing which, rather than racing straight into the river, flows slowly through the reedbeds and pools, filtering, cleaning and soaking up the water before it reaches the river.
The grassy fields are part of the natural floodplain of the river and in other places in Worcestershire, these meadows are host to a beautiful array of summer flowers. Avon Meadows has lost many of its traditional wet meadow flowers, but with time and care, some may come back.
Thanks to a 3 year project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Wychavon District Council have been able to improve access for all around Avon Meadows, with the final phase of new surfaced footpaths due to be completed in March 2015.
Just a few of the things we've achieved through the Wetlands for all project
- Trained over 20 local teachers in how to make the most of the wetlands
- Produced a wildlife education pack that supports school visits to Avon Meadows
- 10 school visits to Avon Meadows so far
- Made a willow heron that stands guard over the wetlands
- Delivered 5 events just for families and lots of walks for everyone
- Welcomed volunteers from 5 other groups to Avon Meadows
- Led Walking for Health groups around the meadows as part of their regular programme
- Started a new moth identification group
- Trained over 20 volunteers in wildlife identification and habitat management skills
- Held a month long art exhibition in Pershore Library with Pershore Arts
- Established a programme of water quality monitoring with students from the University of Worcester
- Managed Avon Meadows with over 1000 hours of volunteer time
- Surveyed and recorded Avon Meadows with over 500 hours of volunteer time
Still to come
- An all-day wildlife extravaganza
- Surfaced footpaths and new gates
- New signage and maps
- Training for volunteers in how to identify butterflies, bees, dragonflies and grasshoppers
- A photographic competition
- Improving the scrape (shallow, muddy ponds) for wading birds
- More school visits planned
- A twilight lantern procession as part of the Pershore River Festival
- Update the management plan for the next 5 years
- The Spirit of the Wetlands
- The Wild Cup Games
- More exchange visits with other wetland managers
To find out more about any of these upcoming activities or how to get involved with the Friends of Avon Meadows, please contact the Wetlands for All Project Officer, Liz Etheridge on 01386 565217 or
