January 11, 2012
January
Thursday 19th Work Party
Saturday 21st Event: Home-made videos, quizzes & photos
10am Wombourne Methodist Church
February
Saturday 4th Work Party
Thursday 16th Work Party
Saturday 18th Event: Bird-spotting along the canal. Meet 10am school lay-by Ounsdale Road
March
Saturday 3rd SPRING WATCH 11am - 3pm at and in partnership with Wombourne Library.
NB No Work Party
Thursday 15th Work Party
Saturday 17th Event: Fishing,to test the water quality of the Wom Brook
January 4, 2012
February 2, 2011
February 2011:
Saturday 5th Work Party
Thursday 17th Work Party
Saturday 19th EVENT: Capturing Signs of Spring-another photography competition
March:
Saturday 5th Work Party
Thursday 17th Work Party
Saturday 19th EVENT: What’s Stirring? Looking for Tracks,fishing etc. [Camera optional].
Non-members are welcome at all events.
Please Note: Work Parties-litter collection & plant/animal habitat management: All activities take place between 10:00-12:00. Meet Gravel Hill picnic benches unless otherwise stated.
Further details may be obtained from Anita - 01902 892187
January 28, 2011
Do you live in the Wombourne area, and can spare 2 hours a month?
Do you value the fantastic resource that is the Wom Brook, along with its wildlife?
Then please join the Friends of Wom Brook-membership is merely £5 per annum.
We need more members!
Some facts about the group:
- Established in 2004, the group works closely with the Architectural and Landscape Department at South Staffordshire Council.
- The Friends of Wom Brook are all volunteers, and represent ages between 10-85 years!
- The Wom Brook Walk is now a nature reserve.
- For the second year in succession, the area has received a national award-the Green Flag.
- The Group appeared in an episode of the BBC TV series, Nature of Britain.
- The Group monitor numbers of the protected and endangered aquatic mammal, the water vole, which is resident at different points along the Brook.
However, more members are needed-to remove debris from the Brook, thus helping to maintain its water quality, enabling a diversity of wildlife to inhabit it. The Friends Group also clear litter, and manage invasive plant species from engulfing sections of the Brook and its surrounding banks.
Its not all work-organised events are held to increase members’ awareness of the diversity of plant and animal species to be found along the Wom Brook and its Walk.
Please join the Friends of Wom Brook-come along to the AGM-you’ll be most welcome!
October 10, 2010
Last weekend, members of the Friends Group removed further amounts of Himalayan Balsam (HB) from the banks of the Wom Brook. Bin bags full of the weed are pictured above awaiting collection by South Staffordshire Council.
Why is the is necessary?
Left unchecked, these hardy plants, classified as a hostile species, choke other plants by taking up their growing spaces, and reduce the light available to grasses and plants that water voles usually feed on. Much more removal of HB is required, and if you live in Wombourne, and could spare 2 hours per month assisting the Friends of Wom Brook, you’d be most welcome-the Group meets by the picnic benches at the Gravel Hill entrance to the Wom Brook Walk, on the first Saturday and third Thursday in the month.
July 2, 2010
July
Saturday 3rd Work Party
Thursday 15th Work Party
Saturday 17th Event: Butterflies of Baggeridge, led by David Jackson
Meet 10:30am Main car park Baggeridge, next to Rangers’ Office
August
Saturday 7th Work Party
Thursday 19th Work Party
Saturday 21st Event: Wild Poolhouse-above and below water
May 17, 2010
This first ever event for the Friends of Wom Brook was staged in Wombourne Library, located in the Community centre.
The Friends Group would like to thank the library staff for their support, and amongst others the RSPB, Staffordshire Wildlife Group, Staffordshire Police, Paul Wilkinson (Amphibians group), the BAT Trust, and Birmingham University.
There was also a resident cartoonist, who passed on some of his many talents to all ages.
In particular, the Friends Group would like to thank the younger members who ran an innovative competition to spot the water vole.
If a contributing group to the event have been missed out, please let us know via the comment section below, so that they can be included.
April 20, 2010
South Staffordshire Council are responsible for maintaining the footbridges crossing the Wom Brook. Road bridges however come under the jurisdiction of Staffordshire County Council.
We have been informed by the South Staffordshire Council’s Architectural and Landscape Services that the pedestrian bridge that lies parallel to the Gravel Hill Road bridge will soon receive a coat of paint and decking.
April 12, 2010
Just a reminder-the Friends of Wom Brook will be holding their first Spring Watch Festival this coming Saturday in Wombourne Library, located in the Community Centre. (Pictured above)
March 30, 2010
Wombourne is shortly to stage its first Spring Watch Festival on Saturday 17th April, between 10 am and 3 pm.
Wombourne Library have very kindly extended an invitation to the Friends of Wom Brook to organise this first ever event. The overarching theme will focus upon the flora and fauna associated with the Wom Brook habitat, and the village of Wombourne.
The following wildlife and associated conservation groups have been invited to exhibit at this forthcoming event:
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Butterfly Conservation
RSPB
South Staffordshire Naturalists’ Society
Staffordshire Bat Group
Hedgehog Rescue
OPAL West Midlands (Bees)
Amphibians
Further information will be provided nearer the event relating to confirmed exhibitors.
