Working to protect and enhance the Lickey Hills and their environs
Habitat Heroes
28th Jun 2024
The Habitat Heroes are a dedicated group of volunteers who have worked in the Country Park for around 14 years. They met each Tuesday and always worked alongside one of the Rangers. Their final session took place on May 28 when they were led by Ranger Penny Marriott digging and clearing ditches to help improve drainage in the Country Park. plus repairing a bridge near Cherry Hill Road.
The Heroes are keen to continue working on the Lickeys and the Society wants to offer as much support as possible to ensure this happens. To meet insurance requirements, the Heroes will not be able to use any power tools without a Ranger presence and so they will be unable to undertake any infrastructure work. In the future they will be restricted to light habitat maintenance work but hopefully they will be able to continue meeting weekly to work and enhance the Country Park. A meeting has been held with the Heroes and, although there are various logistical issues still to be resolved, hopefully it will not be too long before the group are able to be back working on the Lickeys.
The Society is very grateful to the Heroes for all the amazing work that they have done over so many years and is keen to help them continue to operate in the Country Park.
Rednal Trams Information Board
27th Apr 2024
On 27th April a short ceremony was held to unveil the Rednal Trams Information Board which was researched by members of the Lickey Hills Society and designed by Keith and Simon Woolford
The board is sited behind LaiLing Cantonese Restaurant, by the path into Cofton Park. Our thanks to Elliott Gardens management team for permission to use their land.
The board was funded thanks to a generous grant from the Midland Adult School Union.
On one side of the board, “A Tram to the Lickeys” panel tells of the part played by the trams in the growth of Rednal since the first tram arrived at the iconic Rednal terminus 100 years ago in 1924. A small portion of the original track can be seen in front of the board.
On the other side, the “Rednal Village” panel shows how, in the early part of the 20th Century, the arrival of the trams led to the village becoming a tourist centre. Some buildings from that period still exist, like the ‘Hare and Hounds’, whilst others have long since gone.
Holiday Fellowship Sign - Appeal
23rd Apr 2024
A volunteer for an organisation called HF Holidays, formerly known as the Holiday Fellowship, has contacted the Society with an appeal for information.
"In the 1930s HF put metal signs in a number of beauty spots around the country with humorous poems on them asking people not to drop litter. We know of just three that remain. However, a list someone found from 1930 says there is was one on Beacon Hill on the Lickeys. I suspect it has long gone and I have no recollection of seeing it on many visits. But does anyone in your organisation have any recollection of it?".
The picture (left) is of one of the remaining signs - at Rowardennan Hotel, Loch Lomond. If anyone has any memory of, or information about, a similar one on Beacon Hill please message us via our Contact page.
© 2024 The Lickey Hills Society