
3 minute read
Wild News
Diversity within the Environment Sector
Recently we contributed data along with over forty other environment charities to a new report looking into the barriers to ethnic inclusion within the environment sector. Full Colour, who undertook the research, have worked with Wildlife and Countryside Link and its members to create a Route Map in response to their findings. This Route Map provides step by step advice to create greater diversity over a 5-year period. The Wildlife Trusts will be using sections of this route map to strengthen our journey to greater ethnic diversity that we have already started. Read the report here:
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wcl.org.uk/changing-the-worldfrom-within.asp
Good News for Corbett Meadows

Thanks to our recommendation which showed the site to be of high value to wildlife, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council have designated Corbett Meadows in Amblecote a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) which should help it to be protected by the planning system against a current development application. This site is the only substantial area of remnant historic countryside in an otherwise urban area!




Wild Walk Week 2022
Wild Walk Week has drawn to a close for another year, and we're pleased to say that a fantastic 178 people took part in 2022, whether by joining one of our guided walks, taking on our Sutton Park orienteering challenge or by stepping out on a wild fundraising walk of their own. So far a total of £1,185 has been raised! Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the week – we can’t wait for next year!
New Recruits
It’s an exciting time at the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, with lots of new colleagues joining our team this winter! We're pleased to welcome on board Alex Lane as Senior Biodiversity and Planning Officer and Aisha Mahmood as Youth Action for Nature Manager and we're currently recruiting for an Education Manager, Education Officer, Nature Recovery Manager, Nature Recovery Officer, Volunteer Co-ordinator and Membership Fundraiser. These new recruits will expand our Education and Engagement, Conservation and Fundraising teams, furthering our work for wildlife, wild spaces and people across the region.
Defend Nature
Thank you to everyone who has continued to support The Wildlife Trusts’ #DefendNature campaign, keeping a focus on the importance of the natural world in the face of changing governments and changing priorities for wildlife and wild spaces. Grave threats still remain, such as The Retained EU Law Bill, which could mean 570 laws which protect the wild world around us are revoked by the end of next year. You can add your voice to ours in opposition to these plans by heading to
bbcwildlife.org.uk/DefendNature
Works Underway at Sedgley Beacon
We’re delighted to be working on a significant habitat enhancement project with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council at Sedgley Beacon. Phase one of the works are now complete and include new entrances, paths and fencing (creating 10,000m2 of new public open space!), a new paddock and wetland scrapes. Further work will see us restoring hedgerows, opening up woodlands to increase biodiversity, clearing scrub from species-rich grassland and creating/improving wildflower grassland! Look out for more updates in the spring magazine.
Youth Action for Nature
We’re delighted to have hired our new Youth Action for Nature Manager, Aisha Mahmood! Aisha will be leading a brand new, two year project to empower young people in the region to build a strong relationship with the natural spaces around them, and in turn, to be able to take action to protect those spaces and nature as a whole. This project is possible thanks to funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund for the UK-wide Nextdoor Nature programme. We look forward to bringing you updates in future editions of this magazine, and you can find more details about the project and how you, or a young person you know, can get involved at
bbcwildlife.org.uk/YouthAction

New Business Partnership
We’re delighted to announce a brand new business partnership with Birmingham County Football Association.
BCFA have chosen the Trust as their Charity of The Year and will be supporting our work through unique fundraising events and inspiring thousands of supporters to take action for nature’s recovery as part of their award-winning Sustainability programme Save Today, Play Tomorrow.