Local authority district in Worcestershire, England
| Coordinates: | 52.38, -2.27 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SO 81 76 |
Wyre Forest is a district in north‑west Worcestershire whose name comes from the large ancient woodland at its heart. The district’s main towns are Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn, and the landscape ranges from riverside meadows by the River Severn to mixed farmland and the nationally important Wyre Forest nature reserve, valued for its wildlife and walking routes.
There’s a strong industrial and cultural heritage: Kidderminster became famous for carpet and textile manufacture, while Stourport-on-Severn grew as a canal port on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Today the local economy mixes light manufacturing, retail and tourism, with attractions like the preserved Severn Valley Railway, riverside Georgian and Victorian architecture in Bewdley, and outdoor recreation drawing visitors.
The district was created in 1974 and has a blend of post‑industrial communities and commuter suburbs with good links towards Birmingham. Local life is shaped by conservation and community initiatives protecting woodlands and waterways, alongside festivals, markets and small cultural venues that reflect its industrial past and rural setting.