I WALKED down to the playing field last Friday, and looked out across to Old Hollow over the fantastic field of bluebells (and what a beautiful smell!) and thought, yet again, how lucky we are to have these sights on our doorstep. This time of year is all about nature and the great outdoors – or sometimes more about hard labour in the garden!

Children and adults alike have also worked hard on the wonderful displays of well dressing around the village – all had the theme of Togetherness for the Royal Wedding, and I see there is a gold rosette at the West Malvern Tap – well done the Garden and Nature Club. This group will be having its last meeting of the season on Tuesday, May 17 at the Village Hall, when Rebecca Collins will be giving a talk on Bats. Rebecca runs an Environmental Consultancy and is a licensed bat worker with a love of ecology and conservation.

Model Farm on Montpelier Road will be open again this year in the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) on Sunday,May 8 from 2pm–5.30pm. For those who have been before, new features in the garden include Badger Cottage and water flowing from the grotto through rills and the upper garden ponds, and for those who haven’t seen it before, then it is well worth a visit. Over the last 11 years the owners have gradually created a beautiful, tranquil garden over two acres. Shrubs and herbaceous plants are in heavy flower at the moment owing to the excellent weather. Home-made teas will be available and plants for sale; the entrance fee is £4. Money raised goes to the NGS charities - Marie Curie and Macmillan Nurses (cancer support). If you can’t make it this time, the garden is also due to be open on both Sunday, May 22 and Sunday, June 5.

The Malvern Hills Coppice Network Volunteer Group has been doing invaluable restoration work in Park Wood on Brockhill Road and on Wednesday, May 18 a wildflower walk is being organised around the wood. So, there will be an opportunity to see how the work is going, as well as seeing all the flowers. The walk starts at 10am and will take about two hours; if you need more information please ring Dave or Kelda on 575516.

The WI meeting this month is a Social get-together on Thursday, May 12. The aim is to give people the opportunity to get to know each other a bit better (or introduce new members if you haven’t been yet) over a glass of wine or cup of tea, with swishing (like a clothes swap) for accessories. They also hope to set up some subgroups (eg. book club, walking and craft groups).

Lastly, a reminder that the West Malvern Community Market is back again for the new season; it starts on Friday, May 13 at 3.15pm in the school. Buyer or seller, home-made or home-grown, everyone is welcome - if you need more information please ring Emma on 07711 396742.