Working to protect and enhance the Lickey Hills and their environs
Habitat Heroes 15th Anniversary
25th Oct 2025
The Heroes continue to meet every Tuesday to undertake a variety of practical tasks in the Country Park.
The group works closely with the Rangers who advise on the types of work that need to be done and the relevant locations.
Recently the Heroes celebrated their 15th Anniversary having been formed in 2010. Nigel Davies, a founder member of the Heroes surprised the team by providing two decorated cakes each featuring the number fifteen. The photo shows Nigel cutting one of the cakes which were enjoyed by the current Heroes. The team can be seen wearing the Hi Vis tops provided by the Society.
After the team had completed their ‘tea break’, they say it was back to work doing heathland clearance on Bilberry Hill, path maintenance and litter collection
Photo: supplied by Kevin Tibbetts
The Bilberry Centre
19th May 2025
At the beginning of May, members of the Society’s committee met Peter Jenkins and colleagues at the Bilberry Centre. Peter is Project Manager at the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust. Steve Hinton and
Simon Needle, Birmingham’s Parks Services Manager were also present.
Steve spoke briefly about the history of the Centre and the recent events that have resulted in the current state of the buildings. The WMHBT representatives were shown around the outside of the buildings which
have been sealed for some time as the interiors are too unsafe to enter.The group then went back to the Visitor Centre and discussed possible future uses of the buildings. Clearly, the buildings must have a future before any restoration work can even be considered. The WMHBT aimsto safeguard buildings of historical and/or architectural importance within the West Midlands and Worcestershire which are in danger of being lost. Following them meeting, Peter and colleagues were going to report back to their Management Committee. We most hope for a positive response at some point in the future.
The WMHBT members also visited and were very impressed by the WWI gun butts and they were of the opinion that they should be listed. A positive reaction which we hope will result in the listing.
Our thanks go to members of the Lickey Community Group and local councillors who have recently worked at the Bilberry Centre to cover the graffiti daubed walls.
Habitat Heroes
19th May 2025
The Habitat Heroes volunteers are continuing to work in the Country Park every Tuesday. Recent work undertaken by the Heroes has included the repair and securing of the doors on the toilet block close to the
Visitor Centre. Fences have been mended in various locations, ditches cleared, heathland work on Cofton Hill continues and the on-going work of clearing fallen tree branches. Seedling fir trees have been transplanted from Cofton Hill to Gaffers Bank above the pools at the Old Rose and Crown. Considerable work has been done around the main pool as shown in the photos below. It is particularly pleasing to see that the vegetation surrounding the boathouse (possibly the only remaining boathouse in Birmingham parks) has been cleared.
Naturally many thanks to the Heroes for the vital work that they continue to do in the Country Park.
© 2024 The Lickey Hills Society