A CRITICALLY acclaimed wildlife author visited a borough nature reserve to explore what the area had to offer.
Simon Barnes, a wildlife columnist and sportswriter for The Times, was at Ipsley Alders Nature Reserve, where he looked at some of the 170 species of plants and creatures.
The Alders Drive marsh was designated as a reserve in 1967 after the town grew around it. It was bought by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust in 1985 and it is one of 13 flagship reserves.
Mr Barnes, who has written around 20 books including the best-selling How To Be A Bad Birdwatcher, was joined by members of the trust as he explored the wildlife.
Among the rare plants at the site are hemp agrimony, common spotted orchid, fen bedstraw and water mint.
The alders also attracts flocks of siskin and redpoll throughout the winter months and reed bunting, grasshopper warbler and cuckoo in the summer months.
