Category Winners

Martley - South West and Western England

Martley, situated west of Worcester, is a thriving rural community with a positive outlook on life. It is a lively village where all are encouraged to get involved.

The residents of Martley take real pride in the villages surrounding countryside with an active group of volunteers managing the natural landscape. The village maintains two sites of special scientific interest - one with a colony of glow-worms and a range of rare orchids and the other with a colony of slow-worms. It has a designated environment officer and footpath officer. It also employs a litter warden and someone to maintain the roadside verges and ditches and work with the landowners to maintain the hedges.

The importance Martleys rural setting to its residents is clear. A voluntary group has re-opened and way marked all the footpaths around the village. In addition there is a ramblers group which encourages the villagers to join in with monthly guided walks both in the local area and wider afield. There is also an annual village walk organised by the local church. The creation of a Millennium Meadow is currently underway below the church using land purchased by the village. This consists of two and a half acres of meadow land, including a small lake and a watercourse. This project is a major asset for the whole community and many of the villagers are involved in its continuing development.

The village focuses particularly well on its older residents with a number of schemes created for their benefit. There is a sheltered housing scheme situated at the centre of Martleys main housing estate. A parish councillor has specific responsibility to liaise with the residents so that their needs are known and that they are supported appropriately. Transport services are provided for older people through various schemes and there is also an outreach surgery close to the housing scheme for easy access to medical and nursing support.

There is no section of Martleys community that is isolated. This is an all-embracing community rich in drive and enthusiasm.