Exploring Heritage for Fun & Wellbeing: Volunteer-Approved Adventures

29th July 2025

The festival of archaeology has got us thinking about all the many interesting and varied heritage sites there are to visit right here in Worcestershire! The beauty of these places can make us feel a lasting connection to the past and visiting them makes us feel really good! Some of our volunteers wanted to share their favourites with you – perhaps you may find inspiration for a day out!

Stella thought that the Hive itself should be included as an archaeological and heritage venue, one that all our volunteers love going to. As well as the archival and library collections, heritage and art themed displays inside, there is also much to see outside the building. You will find outlines of the almshouses that stood on the site in the 19^th Century marked out in paving stones, as well archaeological finds displayed in the office windows on the ground floor facing The Butts. Inside the building, there are also regular heritage themed exhibitions on Level 2 – currently there is a fascinating display of finds from the St Martin’s Quarter excavations that took place between 2009 and 2012!

Archaeological excavation by Worcestershire Archaeology, now the site of the Hive

Stella also shared her lifelong connection with the Clent Hills:

“Strong childhood memories link me to the Clent HIlls, with weekend walks with my family and dog. The Standing Stones were a focal point for the climb up the “horses mane”. I only realised later in my childhood the Stones were a wonderful 18C eye-catching Folly associated with Hagley Hall, rather than a mini ancient stonehenge. An early lesson in seeing and interpreting a re-creation of the past made a few centuries ago. The other impressive feature of the Clent Hills was the extensive view. This gave me a strong sense of place, with Birmingham and the Black Country to the North, round to the Droitwich Masts, and on clear days a view of the Cotswolds, Black Mountains, Malverns and Clee Hills. The Clent Hills still work their magic to uplift my spirits today”

The Clent Hills

One of Gloria’s favourite places to visit is Forge Mill Needle Museum near Redditch. Needle Making was once a thriving trade in the area.

‘As well as the needle making exhibits, mill pond and coffee shop, there are textile exhibitions. These change about every 6 to 8 weeks between March and November. There is always an eclectic mix. An exhibition earlier this year explored the themes of disability. The pieces representing deafness were thought provoking.’

Next door to Forge Mill, are the ruins of Bordesley Abbey – which are also well worth a look and free to access.

Forge Mill Needle Museum Image credit: Visit Worcestershire

David likes to visit Hanbury Hill which was an important landscape in the Iron Age and is now occupied by a church that is primarily 18^th century in date. There are also lovely views across to the Vale of Evesham.

Hanbury Hill Church

Colin enjoys visiting local ecclesiastical sites:

Malvern Priory

‘We often pop into the Priory when we’re in Great Malvern to look at the Norman columns in the nave, Medieval tiles and fantastic misericords. In the churchyard there is the sad little grave of Anne Darwin (daughter of Charles), who died in Malvern in 1851, having visited to take the waters. And I couldn’t miss out Pershore Abbey, the great survivor, with some really old features e.g. the foundations of the Saxon abbey, Norman columns and arches, a (probable) Norman font, carved stone ceiling bosses (including ‘green men’) etc.’

Pershore Abbey

Ken and Paul both picked Croome Court as their favourite local heritage site. As well as volunteering for us, they both also volunteer there, as part of the heritage and archaeology ranger team. With over 220 heritage assets across the site, they just love how much history is there.

Croome Court and parkland

Thanks so much to our lovely volunteers for these, we think they’re great! Heritage and archaeology can mean so many different things to different people, there really is something for everyone!