THE future of a Worcester nature reserve is in safe hands.

The Friends of Laugherne Brook Local Nature Reserve, who came together with a common aim of protecting and promoting an area of natural beauty in St John’s, have stepped up efforts to ensure it is looked after.

On Sunday a Worcester City Council warden led a guided walk along the banks of the brook to enjoy the flora and fauna.

The friends, who formed in January, went litter picking in preparation for the walk and collected 15 bin bags of rubbish.

They weighed in at about a quarter of a ton.

Stuart Minchin is just one of the local residents with a vested interested in looking after the brook that backs on to his home in Sapphire Crescent, St John’s.

He said: “We only formed a few months ago and we’re still getting the ball rolling but it seems to be going well.

“We had about 40 people turn up at the first meeting and from that we got about 20 members. There are a lot of people who care about the brook.”

The friends hope many more local residents will get involved and that over time the group will strengthen community spirit.

The next meeting, open to alnyone, will be at The Coppertops pub in Oldbury Road, St John’s, on Thursday, April 16 at 7.15pm.

Nature reserve: The facts

The reserve covers about one mile of Laugherne Brook, which flows through the Worcester suburb of St John’s before joining the river Teme at Powick.

Worcester City Council manages the site and maintains the stream side habitats.

Wildlife living around the brook is wealthy and varied; with plants including willow carr, kingcups and marsh marigolds and creatures ranging from colourful butterflies to mallards, moorhens, willow warblers and chiffchaffs.

The watercourse itself is home to minnow, ruff, dace and chub fish, which attract kingfishers and occasionally heron.

If there is heavy rain the brook will flood. Debris, if left, puts nearby properties at risk which is why the council’s ranger team carry out regular checks.

After the 2007 summer floods the entire length of the brook was cleared by hand.

The name Laugherne comes from the old Celtic word for fox.