British National Parks

Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells

Magisters: Cora Weaver & Bruce Osborne
4 Hall Green
Malvern
Worcestershire
England
WR14 3QX
Telephone: +44 (0) 1737213169

Welcome to www.malvernspa.com

It was in 1992 that serious research was started to catalogue and promote the springs and wells heritage of the Malvern Hills. There are now about 130 recorded, celebrated Springs, Spouts, Fountains and Holy Wells sites. Many of the famous sources are still running albeit some have been lost, while others have been restored as a result of local effort. Visitors, travelling upward of 100 miles, and locals alike collect the refreshing spring water and opinions vary as to which is supposedly the most likeable. Even if not "taking the waters" many enjoy the opportunity of exploring the Malvern Hills and discovering the whereabouts and history of the many springs and wells which now number 130 recorded sites.

Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells

Friends promote research, conservation and celebration of the Springs, Spouts, Fountains and Holy Wells of the Malvern Hills and of Great Malvern as a Spa Town. Friends are totally independent, a status that we value. We are pleased to work with all who have a positive interest in Malvern Springs and Wells. Friends are kept informed about what is going on with our mailed Newsletter and can participate in the various activities and projects. We make a nominal charge of 6 pounds for 4 for the Newsletter but emailed it is free. Other than that there is no membership fee or onerous rules to comply with when you are a Friend.

Newsletter Archive On-line - Take a nostag

ic trip into the past by browsing our archive of Friends Newsletters. They are also a valuable research tool. The latest ones give a clearer idea of the activities of the Friends. An index of contents in included on the INDEX PAGE. To go to the index click the newsletter icon left.

The St Werstan's Malvern Awards

This scheme encourages the enhancement of Malvern's water heritage. The Award is a public recognition of outstanding endeavour in the conservation or renovation of our springs and wells and their immediate environment. The scheme is run by the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells in conjunction with Malvern The Original English Water and is unique in that Friends nominate candidate sites. All Friends are then invited in the newsletter to use a quantified marking system to determine whether the site adequately fits the criteria and should receive the award. It is Friends who decide. Sites awarded receive the St Werstan hand cast brass trophy. For much more information about St Werstan, patron saint of Malvern Springs and Wells and the background to this scheme click on the buttons below.

National Parks Coin Series should include Malvern Springs and Wells

Although not named a National Park, the Malvern Hills could arguably be called Britain's first National Park having been established with its own statutory administrative body and countryside protection initially under an Act of Paliament of 1884 with subsequent amendments. On an International level the definition of a National Park includes the inalienable status of the land. In this respect the Malvern Hills are more a National Park than the 15 designated British National Parks.

Beginning in April 2010, the United States Mint will issue 56 quarter-dollar coins featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites. The first of the five quarters to be released in 2010 will honour Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, The United States Mint will issue the subsequent quarters in the order in which the site was first established as a national site. This program follows a similar series depicting US States and Territories during the first decade of the 21^st century. This generated massive enthusiasm for collecting the full set and by taking the collected coins out of circulation it generated an enormous income for the US federal government of 4.6 billion dollars.

Hot Springs, the first of this new series of quarters is similar in status to the Malvern Hills. Albeit now a US National Park, Hot Springs was the first area in the US to enjoy protection. This is why it is first in the quarters series issued in April 2010. Coincidentally Malvern Arkansas is the gateway town to the Hot Springs National Park.

With the new Sussex Downs National Park in Great Britain is this not an idea that could be replicated to advantage here? With our augment that The Malvern Hills are Britain's original National Park, albeit not named as such, we look forward to collecting all 16 of the series, the first of which should be the Malvern Hills. The only question is - which one of our springs and wells should it feature?

Shaw Mulberry Tree to return to Malvern.

In 1936 George Bernard Shaw planted a Mulberry Tree near the Mulberry Spring in Priory Park, Great Malvern as part of the Malvern Festival celebrations. The octogenarian playwright had been actively participant is establishing the Festival and the planting was a celebration of this. Shaw died in 1950 aged 94 years and the tree was blown over in a storm during the winter of the year 2000. The memorial to Shaw was thus lost forever, or so it was assumed. Research by Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells however revealed that in 1959 a cutting from the tree had been successfully sent and established in Malvern Australia. Further investigation

identified where the now massive tree continued to thrive and so a project was launched to return a cutting to Great Malvern, England. With the sponsorship of Malvern Original English Water from the Malvern Hills and the City of Stonnington, Australia where the tree thrives, plans were prepared. The outcome so far is a project that is now well advanced. Saplings arrived and were collected from Heathrow Airport 14th August 2009 for dispersal to secret locations for rearing into plantable trees. Click the panel below for the full story and updated information.

Email: cora@malvernspa.com (click here to send an email)

DIRECTIONS

Located in the rural West Midlands, there are many ways of finding out about the Springs and Wells of The Malverns. The most popular is to explore the Hills on foot, by bicycle or motor vehicle, and discover each site first hand. To help explorers there is a postcard map detailing the main sites, or you can purchase Springs, Spouts, Fountains and Holy Wells of the Malvern Hills. This book contains historical information about each site as well as location maps. Another useful aid to exploring town centre water features is the Great Malvern Water Trail, which includes a map as well as historical and modern day pictures and information. Both books, maps and cards are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Great Malvern and from numerous bookshops and cafeterias around the Hills or can be purchased from our web site by clicking the button above.

CLICK HERE for details of Malvern Books direct from the publisher.

CLICK HERE to become a Friend

CLICK HERE for details of the St Werstan awards for restoration and conservation of the Malvern springs and wells.

CLICK HERE to find out about Malvern Priory and St Werstan.

CLICK HERE to view list and details of the individual springs and wells.

Map: (Click to View in New Window)

1) NATIONAL PARK:

Malvern Hills

2) LANDSCAPE:

Mountains

3) FEATURES:

Wild Life Attraction
Geology & Landscape
Springs and Wells
History & Heritage

4) VENUE ACTIVITIES:

Walking
Cycling
Bird Watching
General Sightseeing

5) GENERAL VISITOR INFORMATION:

Dog Friendly
Free Entry
Child Friendly
Audio or conducted tours
Disabled access
Picnic Friendly
Open all year