Hartlebury Common and Hillditch Pool & Coppice

Hartlebury Common LNR

Tracks lead you all around the site, some wide, open and sandy, others narrow and twisting among trees and bushes. The site is an important public open space on the edge of Stourport, and is very popular with walkers. There is a short waymarked circular trail which leads you round part of the site. There are also several car parks, the main one being at Wilden Top.

Regarded as one of Worcestershire's most important nature reserves, Hartlebury Common is especially noted for its wild plants and over 100 species of moths and butterflies have been recorded. Heather dominates the the lower terrace and specialist flowers flourish, such as Shepherds Cress, Sheeps Sorrel, Heath Bedstraw and delicate Lilac Harebell in late summer. Birds include the delightful Whinchat and Stonechat, as well as a variety of woodland birds in the mature Oak woods.

Left to its own devices the heathland would gradually turn into woodland, which is what it must have been when our Neolithic ancestors settled in the area. They cleared it and grazed their animals on it. As the soil is so sandy heathland vegetation started to develop. Now that animals are no longer grazed intensively on the site, it is important to stop too much broom, gorse and young trees from growing up in the open areas, otherwise they would shade out rarer species and we would lose this nationally important habitat.

In contrast to the dry heathland, Hillditch Pool and Coppice is used by Otters passing through. You can see Alder Carr and reed beds, uncommon vegetation in this area. The pool was originally formed by the damming of Titton Brook to provide power for the nearby mill. Dragonflies and damselflies abound in summer, hovering silently over the water or perched on a leaf. Here you will also find flowering rush and a range of sedges. Marsh Marigold, Watermint and Yellow Flag Iris are just a few of the colourful flowers mixed in among the sedges. Frogs, toads and newts are attracted to the pools.

There is a little broadleaved and conifer woodland, with a lovely mixture of Wild Cherry, Hornbeam, Oak, Beech, Hazel, Holly and Sweet Chestnut. Sweet smelling wild Honeysuckle is abundant, and Bluebells are a fine attraction in May.

Nomadic people were welcomed to Hartlebury with open arms, as they became an additional workforce at harvest times. At one time gypsies had their own church in Hartlebury, the only one in the country. It was a small wooden hut, similar to that which was used by the army. It even had a little bell hung in a nearby tree that was used to call them to worship. It is also believed that travellers brought the delicate Pink Sand Catchfly to Hartlebury, a flower that is usually found on the coast. It is rumoured that while sweeping out their caravans, seeds would be swept on the ground from previous sites they had stayed out.

One person historically owned common land, but the local people had certain rights use the land. It tended to be land that wasn’t much good for growing crops, such as steep hillsides.

Site Information

Hartlebury Common is located just off the B1495 Stourport to Hartlebury road.

Grid Reference: 8270

Download Hartlebury Common Site Map This is a link to a PDF file. (669.34 KB)

Why not extend your stay in the Hartlebury area and visit Worcestershire County Museum? Home to collections ranging from children's toys, archaeology and costume to craft work.

Hartlebury Common Fencing Application

Legal Notice This is a link to a PDF file. (13.68 KB)

Fencing Application This is a link to a PDF file. (1.71 MB)

Scoping Report This is a link to a PDF file. (293.75 KB)

Issues & Options This is a link to a PDF file. (520.28 KB)