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.

Easter at RSPB Sandwell Valley

Wanted

 Property for sale or to let for Sandwell’s local wildlife.

We have lots of two legged, four legged, feathered, furry, and scaly friends that are all looking for accommodation.

Can you help us?  We are looking for enthusiastic landlords, who are willing to let out a bit of their green space with bug hotels, nest boxes, and wildflower patches, to house our wonderful creatures and help wildlife in the Midlands.

Eleanor Bentall (www.rspb-images.com)

Join us at RSPB Sandwell Valley on Bank holiday Monday 28 March between 11 am and 3 pm and take part in the ‘Give Sandwell Nature A Home’ project.

Our new wildlife garden will be open for everyone to come and explore. See examples of all the homes you could create for nature; have a go at mini projects to help wildlife; make lots of fun builds to take home; meet our wildlife gardening experts, who will be on hand with free advice and the top tips on how to help wildlife in your garden.

Pledge your promise to create a residence for wildlife in your own green space and increase the size of our reserve.

No matter whether you have a few flowerpots, a balcony or a big garden, we’ve got activities to suit you and help Give Sandwell Nature a Home!

Eleanor Bentall (www.rspb-images.com)

Butterflies, Bugs and Easter Eggs

But that's not all! Over Easter families will be able to take part in our egg-shellent Butterflies, Bugs and Easter Egg Event. Egg trails, scavenger hunts and a whole host of fun nature activities are taking place every open day during the Easter school holidays.

Trails will be available between 10 am - 4 pm Wednesday - Sunday from Friday 25 March - Sunday 10 April.

Trails cost £2 per child, no need to book!

Eleanor Bentall (www.rspb-images.com)

Wild Wedensdays

This year every Wednesday in school holidays we will be holding our Wild Wednesday Nature days, from Easter.

Each week there will be a different theme to the day including guided pond dipping, den building, natural scavenger hunts and many more hands-on activities.

Bring a picnic, and enjoy our natural playground across the reserve.

RSPB Members - £4 per child
Non-Members - £5 per child

Eleanor Bentall (www.rspb-images.com)

For more information on any of our upcoming events email alex.sharrod@rspb.org.uk or call Nature's Reach on 0121 357 7395

Keep up to date with the latest goings on at RSPB Sandwell Valley by liking our Facebook page HERE and following us on Twitter HERE.

A Day in the Life of... Andy White, Visitor Centre Volunteer

To celebrate how brilliant our volunteers are and give you a behind the scenes peek of life at RSPB Sandwell Valley, we're starting a series of blogs written by our volunteers about them and their roles at Sandwell.

First up is Andy White, who you'll find in the visitor centre on Wednesday afternoons. Andy's a cracking member of the team and his enthusiasm for wildlife is infectious so make sure you say 'hello' if you pop in and see him...

I suppose I was always destined to spend more time on Sandwell Valley once I had retired. After all, my ancestors were shepherds here 200 years ago, and for the past 60 years I have almost always lived right on the edge of this green oasis at the centre of our bustling conurbation.

As a child, my friends and I would roam the valley on summer days, building dens and playing Akee-123, only returning home for food. Latterly, as a parent, I have brought up a family enjoying all that the valley has to offer in respect of its history, recreation and most importantly its wildlife.

Therefore, when I finally decided to retire a couple of years ago, and I needed to fill my days, I needed to look no further than over the road to Sandwell Valley.  Initially, I just spent more time walking, running or cycling. It’s perfect for that.  But actually I felt I wanted to be more involved and became concerned over protecting the valley for its people and its wildlife.  So it was that I started to volunteer at the RSPB.

Currently I volunteer at Nature's Reach Visitor Centre for a half day each week. When it’s quiet, I get to spend a lot of time watching the many different birds on the bird feeders just outside of the window.  But when it’s busy I really enjoy talking about the valley and birds with the visitors who come in for information, a cup of tea or a warm-up on cold days.

I have seen huge changes in the valley over my life time, from the degraded scrubland and industrial landscape of the 1960’s, to the beautiful managed reserve we see today, and although I know it well I am still discovering something new each time I visit.  It’s a fantastic place and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Andy

Andy White, Visitor Centre Volunteer

Thank you Andy! If you like the sound of welcoming visitors to the centre, and spending some time chatting with other nature enthusiasts, we have a vacancy for this role on Saturdays and Sundays. To find our more information and to apply please get in touch with alex.sharrod@rspb.org.uk or call the office on 0121 357 7395. 

Jenny, Connecting People and Nature Intern

Guest Blog - Sandwell Swan, Alex

Our Sandwell Swans met up for their monthly activities on Saturday 16 January. They took a trip to the hide and then painted a photo of something wild they'd seen. We asked Sandwell Swans regular, Alex, to write a short blog on his day at RSPB Sandwell Valley...

"Today I enjoyed painting a picture of a blackbird on canvas with an artist. I also enjoyed walking around the reserve.

From the hide today I saw two coots walking on water and I really enjoyed watching them. I think the hide is a very nice place to see nature. Also I saw a fox walking just outside the window!

The nature is wonderful here and I will definitely visit again."

Alex Jefferson-Stokell, age 12.

Blackbird by Alex Jefferson-Stokell

Find out more about Sandwell Swans and when they're next meeting in our most recent programme.

Mammals and Monsters - October Half Term

October half term is fast approaching and we've got lots of delights in store for our fabulous visitors.

We kick off with Marvellous Mammals on Sunday 25 October, from 10am-12pm. We have small creature expert, Nick, dropping in to lead a morning of finding out all about our furry friends. We'll learn about the habits and habitats of mice, voles and shrews, along with their life cycles and what their preferred bite to eat is.

A little later, we'll set off on an expedition around the reserve, to see whether we can find any four legged lovelies. We'll make notes on where we find them and how we can help them thrive both at home and out in the countryside. Booking is essential, so please call 0121 357 7395 or email sandwellvalley.rspb.org.uk to secure your place. Find out more, including prices, by clicking HERE.

Bank Vole (Tim Hunt)

Wednesday 28 October sees the start of a 5 day long celebration of Halloween, with our Bat Trails! Take a trip around the reserve, answering spooky questions and decoding creepy clues. Collect all you need and you'll earn yourself a ghoulish prize on your return to Nature's Reach!

No need to book, just drop into the visitor centre on any day between Wednesday 28 October and Sunday 1 November and for just £1 per person we'll give you everything you need to get you on your spooky way.

Rahul Thanki (www.rspb-images.co.uk)

Then after all that excitement, we'll be really geared up for our family Spooky Halloween Walk on Saturday 31 October, the night when all the ghosts and ghouls come back to life! We'll start our descent in the hair-raising world of the reserve at 5:30pm, meeting the creepy crawlies that call it their home on the way.

There'll be a range of spine-tingling activities to get the goosebumps going, then hot drinks at Nature's Reach to bring us all back to life.... Mwohahaha! Click HERE for more information... if you dare!

Eleanor Bentall (www.rspb-images.co.uk)

If you'd like any extra information on any of the above events, or about the goings on at RSPB Sandwell Valley in the lead up to Halloween please don't hesitate to get in touch.

We look forward to welcoming you to Nature's Reach for a week of mammals and monsters!

Jenny, Connecting People & Nature Intern, RSPB Sandwell Valley.

RSPB Sandwell Valley Photo Competition 2015

To celebrate the opening of our shiny new visitor centre in July, we launched a photography competition in Spring, inviting visitors to showcase their amazing snaps of the valley on our Facebook page. The winner would be the one to generate the most 'likes' for their photo, being offered tickets for our VIP Residents Launch Event.

To see some of the cracking entries we had (and maybe spot your own) please click play below (full screen button in bottom right corner).

We had some stunning entries and a very worthy winner in Neil Mabon's 'Grey Heron'. Thank you to everyone who entered, what talented visitors we have!

Grey Heron by Neil Mabon

Jenny
(Connecting People and Nature Intern)

Fly by Night - 5 Fun Facts about Bats!

We've had a fantastic response to our Fly by Night - Bat and Moth Night on Saturday 5th September and we're now fully booked! Thank you to everybody who has enquired and we look forward to welcoming those of you with a space on Saturday.

After our recent blog Fly by Night - 5 Fun Facts about Moths, we didn't want to leave our flying furry friends out, so here are 5 facts about bats...

1. There are around 1100 species of bat in the world, the only flying mammal. Some of them can fly at speeds of up to 60mph and some can live to 30 years old!

2. The largest bat in the world is the flying fox. Found in Indonesia, they have a wingspan of 5-6 feet! In contrast, the smallest is the bumble bee bat, which resides in Thailand. It is just 29-33mm and weighs in at a teeny weeny 2 grams. The smallest you'll find in the UK is the pipistrelle, it's appetite however, does not match it's size...

3. The pipistrelle is a greedy little beast, it can eat up to 3000 insects in just one night!

Pipistrelle Bat (Chris Shields - www.rspb-images.com)

4. All UK bats use echolocation to find their way and their prey in the dark. This involves sending out high frequency calls and analysing the sound that bounces off objects around them. Clever, huh?!

5. Vampire bats are named after the bloodthirsty creatures in mythology, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula. However their saliva actually contains an anti-coagulant (conveniently called draculin) which may be able to help combat the causes of stroke and heart disease. Yay bats!

(Robin Boutell - www.rspb-images.com)

We're sorry if you didn't manage to grab a space on our event this Saturday but make sure you look out for the winged lovelies at home too. They're often spotted flying battily about in gardens nationwide!

If you've seen any in your own garden we'd love to hear about it on our Facebook page and Twitter!

Jenny (Connecting People and Nature Intern)

Home Grown Wildlife

Up until a few years ago I had always looked at overgrown areas of my garden as a bad thing, and that they needed maintaining like a lawn. 

It suddenly occurred to me one day that there wasn’t much insect life. In fact there wasn’t much life in general. It was time for change! Since then, I have been letting areas of my garden grow naturally. As another attempt at creating a home for wildlife, I placed wooden boards throughout the garden, which mammals and hopefully reptiles would utilise.

One of my wildlife boards amongst the grass

Juvenile bank voles in a nest under one of the boards

My results were astonishing. Within one week of placing down the boards I had mice, voles, shrews, toads and frogs living underneath them.

Within a few more weeks I had nesting voles under every board, even multiple nests under some. It was amazing to know that I had created an environment whereby creatures such as these voles, could see it as a home. 

Bank voles become sexually mature at just five weeks old. Female bank voles can produce up to four or five litters a year which explains the numbers found within my garden.

Adult bank vole

Juvenile bank vole

I think that until people can actually see how diverse wildlife in their gardens can be, things will not change for the greater good. Seeing is believing, so hopefully this blog post will excite you to let your garden grow. It’s really as simple as that. It doesn’t cost anything. Just sit back and watch your garden grow. The long grass provides shelter and protection from the elements for many creatures.

Since starting the study of my garden I have wanted to photograph a shrew with my field studio. Unlike the other mammals in my garden the common shrew is very elusive. I was once fortunate enough to come across a nest containing a litter of common shrews, but these types of situations are best left undisturbed.

I found this shrew (pictured below) under one of the boards that I placed down in the paddock. The image does not show size but I can tell you it was only around 5cm long (body only), so very small. It's long pointed nose and tiny eyes make the shrew stand out from other mammals such as voles and mice. Their short life-span means that it is uncommon for them to live for more than 12 months. Their diet consists of mainly insects but they will also eat slugs, snails and earthworms. The common shrew can be found widespread throughout Britain and comes in at second place in being the most numerous Mammal in Britain.

Common shrew

The wood mouse is one of the most common rodents found here in the UK. This one in particular lives under the stone slabs outside our kitchen. Every day I watch as they harvest up the spilt bird seed from the feeder that hangs above. Where there is food you will most likely find mice, or at least evidence of their nocturnal activities. In our conservatory there isn’t a seed packet that hasn’t been opened or bulbs that haven’t been nibbled.

From a photographic point of view, they are one of the hardest subjects to photograph using my field studio, due to their athletic ability and lighting fast reactions. So getting these shots was rewarding and a welcome change of subject.

Wood mouse

For the first time ever I came across a hedgehog in the garden. I’m still amazed at how bizarre they are with their spine-covered bodies and with their ability to curl up into tight ball. These amazing creatures are one to look out for as their numbers are in decline.

Hedgehog in defensive position (left) and non defensive (right)

Sometimes the places you least expect can become occupied by nature. This bag of builders sand was left over from some work we had done on the house. After several months the bag and it's contents had become a home for a whole host of wildlife.

This bank vole had built a nest in the sand bag. The nest has been built with dried grass. When I took this picture the voles had very recently collected some fresh grass to bulk it out. Nothing like a bit of home improvement!

Juvenile bank vole emerging from nest in builders sand bag

This toad is a full time resident in the bag.

   

This year had been an exciting one. Three out of the five boards I put down had multiple grass snakes underneath them. Being only juveniles it meant that I had breeding grass snakes in the vicinity, which was great to know.

Juvenile grass snake basking on top the builders sand bag   

Juvenile grass snake profile

I have very recently made use of this old children’s playhouse. Rather than dispose of it I cut the roof off it to make it into a grass cuttings box. I intend to attach a tarpaulin over the top. This should hopefully warm up in the sun and together with the warmth, produced by the decaying grass, should create a haven for grass snakes.

It's worth seeing what you have in your garden that could be made into a home for wildlife. Even if it’s an old bucket, you could upturn it, creating a dry home for some creature in need. Give it a go, you may be pleasantly surprised.

If you'd like to find out more about the mammals residing on the RSPB Sandwell Valley reserve (maybe even meet a few!) and more about how you can encourage them to visit your own garden, why not join us for our Marvellous Mammals event on Sunday 25th October?? Find out more about it here... https://www.facebook.com/events/1686105998287474/

Tim Hunt (RSPB Sandwell Valley volunteer)