Hartlebury Common is another great place for a dog walk and is popular with walkers and horse riders, not to mention the picnic pack when the weather's good.
We normally take the mile-long heather trail which is just perfect for elderly dogs like Maimee and I but you can wander as far as you fancy on the gorse and heather lined paths that cover the sandy heathland. You don't have to stay on your lead and there are poo bins in the carpark and along the trails.
This is an area of Special Scientific Interest because of the more unusual heathland plants that thrive and provide shelter for many special insects and birds including the green tiger beetle, the emperor moth and the good old common lizard. We've yet to see any deer but there are plenty of rabbits and squirrels.
It's owned and managed by Worcestershire County Council's Countyside Services so the removal of trees and scrub has been part of an ongoing regeneration programme over the last two years.
Forestry operations have temporarily closed our heather trail so we tend to head off from Wilden Top carpark in Wilden Top Road and see where the mood takes us.
If you like the idea of joining a volunteer team to help with the heath clearance work, you can always come along to one of the volunteering days. They are usually posted on a notice board near the carpark and take place on Thursdays and Saturdays. Dates in May include 2nd, 16th, 19th and 30th and in June on the 13th, 15th and 27th.
Our walk from the carpark takes you along the boundary of the common up onto the upper terrace which is well signposted with yellow markers and passes through a mix of woodland and scrub.
At this time of year with so much tree clearance going on, there are plenty of muddy puddles to paddle in alongside sandy tracks leading to wide open heath as you approach the top of the common.
It's worth sticking to the boundary route because the incline is gentle and it's a lot drier at the edges if your owner isn't wearing wellies. At the top of the common, you can look out over the Stourport road beyond to a great view of the Clee Hills - another fantastic dog walk which you can reach by driving through Cleobury Mortimer and following the signposts.
Fellow dog walkers are friendly and considering how many use these routes, the tracks are well maintained. It does seem a shame to see so many of the old trees being cut down but conservation is a priority to ensure that the Common thrives.
This walk is about a mile and is recommended by Chad.
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