Coleshill’s residents joined forces with the Tame Valley Wetlands, local councillors Dom Ferro and Adam Farrell and Amey NDS to improve Coleshill’s Trajan Hill Spinney.
The Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme (TVWLPS) hosted a drop in day at Coleshill community centre, where the local community made nest boxes for their nearby woodland. The bank holiday Sunday saw all age ranges joining TVWLPS volunteers, to create a total of 10 bird boxes and 5 bat boxes. The woodland itself then had a makeover, later that week, after concerned residents approached Borough councillors, Dom Ferro and Adam Farrell, due to the untidiness of the ‘Spinney’. Residents spent two days working with volunteers from Amey and the Tame Valley Wetlands, transforming the overgrown woodland into a haven for both people and wildlife. Amey provided all the materials and 20 of their staff donated their time to work on the project. This was a great scheme that showed how communities and businesses can use joint partnership to achieve a great result.
Trajan Hill Spinney now has a natural path installed where you’ll be able to enjoy the new wildflowers when they appear. A litter pick was done as well as bramble clearance to help improve the area. Some brambles were left naturally though as they provide food and a habitat for wildlife, such as hedgehogs and birds. The bird and bat boxes made by local children and residents were then finally put up around the area.
Dom Ferro, Borough Councillor said, “The area is unrecognisable. This wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of local residents. A huge thank you to the volunteers at the Tame Valley Wetlands, who spent part of their Bank Holiday weekend with us and local children.” Tim Haselden, Tame Valley Wetlands Scheme Manager commented “It’s great to see the community taking their local wild spaces into their own hands. It will really benefit the wildlife and the local children.”
This project is part of the Tame Valley Wetlands – a landscape partnership scheme supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, aiming to create a wetland landscape, rich in wildlife and accessible to all.
The Tame Valley Wetlands is led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with a wide variety of organisations including charities, local groups, statutory bodies and councils. Visit www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk for more events and info.
