Neighbourhood Nature
Neighbourhood Nature actively encourages participation, helping to arrange activities such as environmental improvements, nature study, wildlife gardening, access improvements, healthy walks, art and craft projects and environmental clubs. People need nature on their doorsteps. Urban trees and green spaces help to bring wildlife close to home and they make towns and cities better places in which to live and work.
Neighbourhood Nature is part of the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and Black Country and is funded by New Deal for Communities working closely with Walsall MBC. The project is a free service and available for community groups and residents within the New Deal for Communities targeted Area of Walsall.
Doorstep Green Space
The Goscote Valley is a green oasis of 35 hectares of open green space beside Blakenall and Leamore. The Wyrley and Essington canal runs along the western boundary and the valley also comprises of various habitat types such as grassland, woodland, wetland and the Ford Brook - home to water voles. This area has seen many changes to its landscape-it was previously mined and housed a copper refinery and water mill. The beauty of the Goscote Valley on a summer’s day does little to reflect its industrial past. The Goscote Valley is now surrounded by urban development and provides a vital link to green space across the borough.
Your Thoughts
Through Neighbourhood Nature the Wildlife Trust can use funding from New Deal for Communities in Walsall to work with and involve local people in helping and encouraging much more wildlife on the doorstep. We would like to find out more about what you think.
If you have an idea for a project or would like to get involved please contact Julia Morris the Project Officer.