The Malvern Hills and Commons are a large, complex and multi-designated landscape that is used and enjoyed by a wide range of people.  It's also home to a variety of nationally important features such as the open grasslands and British Camp hillfort. Managing such a landscape is a big challenge with many legal duties that must be met, together with balancing the demands of the 21st century. 

Our practical work on the ground is guided by an adopted Land Management Plan (LMP).  These 5 year documents was developed with partners and following public consultations. 

The current plan (2021-2026) can be viewed further down this page and is split into three parts.

Land Management Plan 2027-2031

We are now in the process of drawing together our next LMP for the period 2027-2031. 

We would welcome input from the public and partners in the process and there will be multiple opportunities to contribute.

Call for Evidence and Postcard Exercise - Consultations closed

Trustees and staff are keen that our new Land Management Plan and the choices made therein are evidence-based and draw on the latest knowledge and data available. 

We have undertaken two consultations so far (there will be more coming later this year). The first was a public consultation inviting the public's views on what makes the Hills and Commons special and what environmental challenges MHT should tackle in the years ahead.

The second, a call for evidence, invited the public, partner organisations and other stakeholders to send in sources of information for supplementing our writing of the LMP. 

Both of these consultations have been immensely helpful and we are grateful to everyone who contributed. 

Land Management Plan 2021-2026

Part 1 - Description

This first part identifies the drivers behind the Trust's work and then describes the land and all its features.

Land Management Plan Part 1 (PDF, 4.8mb)

Part 2 - Evaluation

This part evaluates what has been described in Part 1 in order to identify the priorities.

Land Management Plan Part 2 (PDF)

Part 3 - Objectives and work programme

The final part clarifies what the goals are (objectives) and describes how Trust will achieve them in the work programme.

Land Management Plan Part 3 (PDF 5.6mb)

Supporting information

Appendix 1 lists all the features of the Hills and Commons and was used to evaluate and prioritise them.

Appendix 1 - Evaluation (PDF)

Four public consultations were held to put this plan together.  This included the opportunity for the public contribute to 'Your Views', a postcard exercise to list what they liked about the Hills and what they thought were issues.

Summary of 'Your Views' (PDF)

A Shared Vision

Much of the Malvern Hills and Commons are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Both designations convey a legal requirement for land management that supports the defined landscape character and conserve notified wildlife and geological features.

The Malvern Hills Trust are working towards a landscape that meets those requirements and far more. Our work involves the maintenance and restoration of open habitats to the benefit of views, grassland wildlife and cultural heritage. In other places we are managing and actively expanding woodlands. The visionary map guiding this work is supported by the government conservation body Natural England and the Malvern Hills AONB unit.

It can be viewed here: SSSI Supplementary Mapping (PDF).