It's over 20 years since the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust last bought a substantial woodland but they have just secured a very special one. They have purchased Blackhouse Woods and are raising funds for the restoration and ongoing management of this vital woodland ecology.

I'll be walking 110 miles across Worcestershire between 14 of the Trust's best woodland reserves to raise money for the Blackhouse Wood appeal. It's going to take me a week and I will get sore feet but be happy! I'm also going to swim across the Severn on the last day!

If I meet my target (£10k) the money will be spent on helping the Dormouse population flourish.

Blackhouse Wood is 100 acres in size and lies along the Suckley Ridge in the west of the county adjoining the Crews Hill nature reserve (and near our house!). It is a truly exciting opportunity to restore the woodland and create an asset for wildlife and visitors.

The Trust's ownership will guarantee the restoration of Blackhouse Wood, bringing it back to life. The potential is clear in their adjoining nature reserve where they have barbastrelle bats, 58 moth species , woodland birds, butterflies and mammals supported by a rich selection of flowers and fungi. A praticular target will be to encourage the spread of dormice, a threatened species.

They'll be removing conifers, planting oaks and field maples; coppicing hornbeams and veteran limes to prolong their lives and creating glades so flowers and butterflies will thrive.

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Photo by Danny Green.