The Origin and Achievements of the Community Forum.

So how did we get here then? For those of you who have visited Sandwell Valley for years, you may fondly remember our old visitor centre, and perhaps the less-fond memories of us losing it. Sadly, in 2010 the visitor centre suffered fire damage that rendered it unusable to visitors, volunteers and staff. In the meantime we obtained a temporary office and visitor centre called the SPA (which means Semi-Permanent Accommodation, rather than a place to relax and be pampered!).

Stuck without a permanent visitor centre, classroom or brew station, we looked to rise from the ashes, and so applied for funding for a brand-new visitor centre. From this the ‘Breathing New Life into Sandwell Valley’ project was launched successfully, resulting in the building of our new centre funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust, Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust and other Charitable Trusts.

As well as us getting a brand new facility, the RSPB and our funding partners thought it would be a missed opportunity for us to not engage with the huge audience sitting on our doorstep, across Sandwell borough. This resulted in an exciting new role being funded for four years, for a Community and Volunteer Development Officer (Nadia Shaikh, currently covered on secondment by Lucy Hodson) which looks to reach out into the community and aims to enthuse and inspire them about wildlife and the reserve.

A key part of the role was to establish our Community Forum, which might sound a bit business-like, but really we’re a group of local residents, visitors, volunteers and people who generally love the reserve! The forum was set up to give local people the opportunity to have a say in the general running, improvements, events and projects of the reserve, and you can read more about who we are HERE.

So what has the Community forum achieved?

Nature’s Reach

As well as having input into the design and function of the new visitor centre, the forum got the vital job of christening the building. After much deliberation and putting it to the vote, the forum decided upon the name of ‘Nature’s Reach’ – pretty perfect seeing as wildlife and nature is always within reach when you visit!

The grand opening!

For the opening of Nature’s Reach, we organised two big celebrations; our Residents Launch Event and our Family Wildlife Festival. Our resident’s launch saw 150 residents immediately local to the reserve get a tour of the new centre, and our family festival drew over 1000 visitors for a day of activities and celebration on the reserve.

Residents Launch Event

Community projects

As part of our community engagement work, we design and deliver a community project for each year, running April-March. The idea of the project is totally down to us, we just have to make sure it engages local members of the community and community groups. So what have these projects been so far?

2014’s project saw us give a makeover to the railway bridge you cross over as you enter the reserve. Working with a mural artist called Spearfish, a work party from Network Rail, and influenced by designs from Children from the local primary school, Grestone primary and secondary school, Hamstead Hall Academy, the blank concrete canvas of the bridge was transformed. Now when you visit you can cross our vibrant wildlife-themed bridge, which is a bit more of a cheery welcome to the reserve!

Community Project 2014 - The Bridge Makeover

For 2015, our community forum suggested that an area of overgrown scrub could be transformed into a reflection garden. A quiet space for reflection and a new area to discover nature on the reserve.

Ben Iddon, RSPB volunteer garden superhero, is leading the quest to transform this space along with support from groups such as students from the George Salter Academy, Newton W.I. and Leonard Cheshire Disability.

As for 2016, we’re launching a community project that comes out to you! Giving Sandwell Nature a Home will be encouraging families, grown-ups, kids and community groups to build homes for wildlife in their own green spaces and gardens; read about the project HERE.

Community Project 2016 - Give Sandwell Nature a Home

Giving Sandwell Nature a Home-

What’s this all about then?

Giving Sandwell Nature A Home is this year’s exciting community project from RSPB Sandwell Valley about enhancing wildlife in an urban space and giving everyone in Sandwell the chance to experience nature on their doorstep, boosting their own health and wellbeing.

The initiative will help transform green spaces that are perfect for wildlife and extend the size of the RSPB Sandwell Valley reserve. The team is asking Sandwell residents to get involved and help wildlife by creating bug hotels, nest boxes, and wildflower patches to house wonderful creatures in the Midlands.

Can you give our two legged, four legged, feathered, furry and scaly pals a place to stay??

Bird Lodge (Eleanor Bentall, www.rspb-images.com)

So how do I Join in?

Visit RSPB Sandwell Valley, and we will give you your own free ‘how to’ guide, giving you the knowledge you need to provide a range of homes for nature (find our address and contact details below).

Once your head is full of ideas, we want you to pledge a little bit of your garden to wildlife, in whatever way you can. Whether it’s a bug palace, sparrow street or wildflower meadow ( in a wellington boot or plant pot), we want to mark every new home for wildlife  on our map.

Welly planters (Martyn Poynor, www.rspb-images.com)

 Why should I join in?

A lot of our wildlife is in trouble, and creating small homes for nature can really make a difference. If we all do a little bit in our gardens,  imagine how much you could help wildlife on your street alone!

Giving nature a home in your garden is not just better for wildlife but better for us too – research shows that our physical and mental wellbeing is enhanced by contact with the natural world.

Bug Hotel (Eleanor Bentall, www.rspb-images.com)

Once you’ve got stuck in and done your bit for wildlife, we want you to share your photos on social media, using the hashtag #WildSandwell and in return, we’ll choose 1 lucky landlord from each of three categories to pick up one of our fab prizes.

#1 Friendliest Landlord Award – For those who’ve fully embraced the project and opened up their home to everything wild, with the most homes for nature. You’ll have more ways of welcoming wildlife in your garden than anyone else in town.

#2 Creative with a Small Space Award – We want to see just how much nature you can fit in a teeny tiny space. This award is for that special landlord who doesn’t have a huge amount of space, but has seen the potential in that windowsill/plant pot/bit of fence and turned it truly wild.

#3 Sandwell Showstopper Award – If you’ve gone all out and created a nature homing masterpiece, this category is for you. Your green space will have the razzle dazzle and creative flair of an all-singing, all-dancing golden eagle on Broadway. Now THAT’s a showstopper.

Enter your garden by sharing your photos on Facebook and Twitter and using the hashtag #WildSandwell

 Facebook: /birmblackcountrywarks

Twitter: /RSPBSandwell

Not on social media? Email your photos to sandwellvallley@rspb.org.uk with the subject line ‘Wild Sandwell’, or even bring them in to Nature’s Reach, 20 Tanhouse Avenue, Great Barr, B43 5AG.
Phone: 0121 357 7395. www.rspb.org.uk/sandwellvalley

  

The community project for 2016 aims to create more wildlife-friendly gardens and connect green spaces across the Sandwell neighbourhood, all made possible by funding from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

WHO? RSPB Sandwell Valley and the Community Forum

Hello and welcome to our first Community Forum e-newsletter! We thought we'd start with a little introduction to who we are.

RSPB Sandwell Valley is a a little bit of green paradise wedged between Birmingham and West Bromwich, in the north east corner of Sandwell Valley Country Park. Not only is it the perfect place to come and see a bullfinch or lapwing, it's also great for families and people of all ages and abilities.

View of RSPB Sandwell Valley
from Nature's Reach visitor centre (Jenny Stevens)

We have a fantastic team of staff and volunteers who keep the reserve spick and span, while always improving it for nature and visitors. You can see all sorts of different wildlife throughout the year, with great numbers of wading birds, wildfowl and woodland birds; butterflies and moths; creepy crawlies and even the odd mammal. To find out more about RSPB Sandwell Valley CLICK HERE!

Little Ringed Plover at RSPB Sandwell Valley (Andy Purcell)

Our shiny visitor centre, Nature's Reach, opened in July 2015, made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. From there you can watch our ever-busy bird feeders, pick up a pond dipping kit, find out about recent sightings and grab a hot drink and snack.

School Group birdwatching at Nature's Reach.

And that's where the community forum comes in. It was set up when plans for the new centre were confirmed, with the intention of giving local people, volunteers and staff a chance to have a say in the day to day running of the centre and where it's headed. It's role is to input ideas and suggestions for improvements and help with strategic decisions. In addition, the forum works closely with staff and volunteers to increase awareness of the site and ensure the local community uses the reserve. The forum is open to anyone who uses the site (or would like to) and is interested in what we do. So please please get in touch if you'd like to get involved (please see contact details below).

Opening of Nature's Reach at Residents' and Local Community Launch Event.

Our current forum members all use the site regularly and are passionate about it's upkeep and it's future. We thought we'd ask a few of them to tell you what they love about RSPB Sandwell Valley and what it means to them...

"This is a lovely refreshing place to walk and reflect. It also has an interesting array of plants, birds and wildlife that makes walking around the reserve an enjoyable experience."

- Winsome, community forum member and local resident.

"I love RSPB Sandwell Valley because it brings the feeling of being in a rural area to an urban town. It is wonderful to be able to walk and sit in such beautiful settings located right on my doorstep."

- Lorna, community forum member and local resident.

"What does RSPB Sandwell Valley mean to me?

R - Riotous change in colour with the
S - Seasons.
P - Public appreciation of the
B - Birds and the
S - Scenic views from the
V - Visitor centre."

- Roy, community forum member, RSPB Sandwell Valley volunteer and local resident.

"I love that RSPB Sandwell Valley is this little green space in the middle of an urban jungle, with huge personality! It's perfect for all ages and interests, with so many activities running each year. The various wildlife that visits is incredible considering the location and the community spirit and passion for nature among staff and volunteers is inspiring. Whether you're a keen birder or struggle to tell your blue tit from your great tit, you'll be welcomed. What's not to love?!"

- Jenny, community forum member and Connecting People & Nature Intern.

"It may sound odd, but my favourite thing about Sandwell Valley is probably the people who donate their time and talent to us. Our huge team of volunteers (120+!) know everything there is to know about all of the feathered, buzzing, creeping-and-crawling, furry and colourful residents of this nature reserve, and will always stop to inform and enthuse you about the abundance of wildlife here!"

- Lucy, community forum member and Community and Volunteer Development Officer. 

Want to know more and get involved? Email lucy.hodson@rspb.org.uk

Stay up-to-date with the latest happenings and upcoming events by finding RSPB Sandwell Valley on social media. Like on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Recent Sightings - February/March 2016

The big story so far of 2016 has undoubtedly been the very early return of a little ringed plover. First spotted on Monday 22 February, it was the first to be seen in the Midlands and possibly the whole of the UK. This is the earliest, by far, that one has reached us, normally arriving around mid March. We're pleased to say that the female has now been joined by another. Fingers crossed they make use of the new gravel pits installed by volunteers!

Another very early returning regular is our one footed oystercatcher who is back for her 8th year, along with a mate, who arrived shortly afterwards. The great crested grebes have started their courtship, while a pair of little grebes were seen on the river on Tuesday 23 February and more recently on Forge Mill Lake.

It was great to hear a redshank had been spotted from the hide on Sunday 13 March, however it has been elusive since.

Ducks include goosander, gadwall, wigeon, teal, shoveler, pochard, tufted and goldeneye. Snipe have been spotted from the hide on most days with akingfisher making the odd appearance. There have also been sightings of water rail reported, most recently on Saturday 12 March.

Various birds of prey have been spotted including buzzards, a sparrowhawk, kestrel and a peregrine from the hide.

From Nature's Reach, the bird feeders have been really busy, with lots of different birds making an appearance during National Nest Box Week. Notably, lesser redpoll feeding from the window boxes, both willow tits and marsh tits on the cage table and hanging feeders. Not to mention, 2stonechat spotted in the marsh area on Saturday 5 March.

Stay tuned for more arrivals in the coming weeks!

Jenny (Connecting People and Nature Intern)

Image credits: Little ringed plover, Ben Hall; grebe, Chris Gomersall; goldeneye, Ben Hall; stonechat, Ben Hall (all www.rspb-images.com)