We’re always looking at ways we can improve and develop Clent Hills. Some projects may take years to complete – with different phases and milestones along the way. On this page you’ll find details of any projects we have planned at Clent Hills over the coming years.
We know people come to Clent to get outdoors and spend time with friends and family, and an important place for families is the natural play area. As part of the Play project, we hope to improve our natural play area, installing more inclusive play equipment, and giving new life to the currently unused natural play trail. We hope to update both spaces and inspire a love of nature through play in the next generation.
Since gathering feedback through an online survey in December 2023, where we received over 300 responses, we’ve appointed a design company, have an initial design and are hoping to apply for planning permission soon. You can find out more about these stages below.
December 2023
The first stage in improving the play areas at Clent Hills was to assess our current offer. We hoped to capture thoughts and opinions of parents, carers and grandparents through our online survey. Our online survey closed 31st January 2024. The information we gathered was then used in the next step of the project, the design stage. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback. We had over 300 responses!
Below are some FAQs about the project and ways to stay up to date with project milestones.
Are you making the natural play area inclusive?
Yes, as much as we can. We’re hoping with the current designs we have, about half of the play area will be inclusive and accessible. We hope to share more details regarding the design once we have planning permission and a date work will start.
I have a child who is SEN – will you be looking at equipment for them too?
Absolutely, we want to make the natural play area as inclusive as we can, and we’re hoping about half of the play area will include accessible equipment.
Will the play equipment impact the natural environment?
We want our play equipment to compliment the area it’s in and be in keeping with the environment. Our aim is to keep any impact to the natural environment to a minimum. As we upgrade the play area, we’ll strive to keep the project in line with the National Trust sustainable strategy.
How long will this project take?
As we’ll need to go through both planning permissions and funding applications, unfortunately, we can’t say with any certainty how long this project will take. We’ll share any updates we can throughout the project, and dates when we’re able to do so.
How much will this cost. Can you afford this?
Our first step is to process the planning application, and if we are successful, we will be seeking funding from external funders to make this project a reality.
What happens if you don’t get funding?
Unfortunately, without the support of an external funder, this project will not be possible. Limited charitable funds at National Trust means the budget would not be available to progress.
I’d like to know how this project progresses. How can I stay informed?
We will, of course keep staff, volunteers and visitors informed. We’ve set up a page on our website (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/worcestershire-herefordshire/clent-hills/clent-hills-play), which will be updated with project milestones. You can ask any of our onsite staff about progress too.
You can also follow us on social media, where we’ll be posting updates about the project and sharing any operational updates closer to work starting.
Who is funding this project?
We are currently looking into companies and external funders who can support our vision for play.
I didn’t know you had a play area for children, where is it?
Our current play area is located at the Nimmings wood car park entrance to Clent Hills. It’s in the wooded area which sits behind the independent, family run cafe. Unfortunately, the natural play area is currently closed to visitors, as the team carry out important work here, such as felling trees and planting fruit trees. Closing the area also allows it some time to regenerate as we add new habitats in.
If you’re passing by the natural play area on your way up the Viewpoint path, you may see the team planting fruits trees in the habitat islands that will remain in the area when the play equipment goes in. This will give birds and bugs living here a new food source and contribute to preserving the ecosystem at Clent Hills.
Where is the play trail?
The play trail is also located at the Nimmings wood car park entrance to Clent Hills. It will follow a hidden path adjacent to the Viewpoint path. It isn’t currently accessible to the public.
When will we be able to see the final design?
Earth Wrights shared their design for the natural play area with the team in August 2024. We're now in the process of applying for planning permission and hope to share designs ahead of work starting, once we’ve secured funding for the project.
I have experience in this type of work, I’d like to offer my help?
Thank you for the generous offer. We’ll be going out to tender for this work; however, our team of staff and volunteers may need some support clearing the play trail area. We’ll put an ask out for help for this closer to work beginning. We’ll update both out social media pages and Play project webpage.
Our visitor numbers have grown significantly since the septic tank was first installed many years ago. As our visitor numbers continue to grow, we need to make sure our sewage treatment system can cope now, and in the years to come.
We hope to build a reedbed waste system, which harnessing natural ecological processes to breakdown organic matter in wastewater; whilst also supporting and improving the environment for local wildlife and creating new habitats for the creatures that call Clent Hills home. The reedbed will not only create clean water by filtering and purifying wastewater, but they’ll also use no energy in the process – using gravity rather than electricity and helping Clent lower its carbon footprint.
January 2025
The planning application for the Sewage Project was submitted in January.
Below are some FAQs about the project and ways to stay up to date with project milestones.
What is involved in this project?
This project will involve building a new sewage treatment system to help Clent Hills manage visitor waste both now, and in the future. We’ll be creating a reed-bed filtration system. This engineered structure will harness natural ecological processes for the breakdown of organic matter in wastewater. Using gravity rather than electricity, this is an innovative, sustainable way to filter waste from our toilets; helping lower Clent’s carbon footprint.
We’ll also be creating new habitats for local wildlife as part of this process, with hedges planted around the reed-beds providing shelter and food to some of the creatures that call the Clent Hills home.
Why are you doing this?
Our visitor numbers have grown significantly since the septic tank was first installed many years ago. With more people visiting the places we care for; we need sewage treatment systems that can cope with rising numbers, and future proof our facilities for years to come.
A reedbed waste system means we can continue to serve growing visitor numbers, while also supporting and improving the environment for local wildlife; creating new habitats for the creatures that call Clent Hills home.
How will a reedbed help?
The reedbed will not only create clean water by filtering and purifying wastewater, but it’ll use no energy in the process – using gravity rather than electricity and helping Clent lower its carbon footprint.
The reedbed will treat the wastewater to a high standard, using only natural sustainable ecological processes, before clean water is then absorbed back into the ground. The reedbed will create new habitats at Clent and the hedges planted to support them will also create cover and food; improving the environment for wildlife at Clent and ensuring we leave the area better than before development, in line with Biodiversity Net Gain.
Will it smell?
There may be a slight odour in the wetland, as its main purpose is to treat sewage. However, this will be minimal. The Wetland will also sit in a separate field, fenced off from the public. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get close enough to the reedbeds to smell them.
Will I see any excrement?
No, all the solids are retained inside the sewage tank and emptied on a regular basis.
Will the public be able to access the reedbed?
The reedbed will not be accessible to the public and, like any other water course, you should not go in. There will be clear signage around the area. They’ll be fenced off allowing only wildlife in. This is both for the safety of the public, and to allow wildlife time to discover the new area undisturbed.
How will this work impact visitors?
Whilst we will attempt to keep any disruption to a minimum, there is likely to be low level disruption to visitors when the works are taking place. The public toilets, and likely a section of the car park, will be closed to enable us to remove the old system and put in a new one. However, we will have temporary toilets onsite for visitors while work is being carried out. Access to the fields, where work is taking place, will also be limited. Staff, volunteers and visitors will be updated with developments as soon as we know more.
Will the cafe be closed?
We don’t see this work impacting the operation of the cafe.
How can you afford this?
The sewage system requires immediate attention to cope with rising visitor numbers and to future-proof the site for years to come. Funding for this important, innovative project has come from the wider National Trust budget, not directly from the Clent Hills’ budget.
What is BNG?
Biodiversity Net Gain, also known as BNG, is an approach to development and land management. It makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development.
How will this project ensure BNG is delivered?
We want to make sure any work we carry out at Clent Hills is an improvement to the area. Though we plan to work around the pre-existing habitat islands – and the team will be planting fruit trees in the play area over the coming months – there will be some disruption to wildlife as part of this project. To ensure we’re delivering our BNG goals, we’ll be creating and improving habitats in other areas of Clent Hills, so at the end of the project we’ve had a measurably positive impact (‘net gain’) on biodiversity.
