Working to protect and enhance the Lickey Hills and their environs
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.
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.
On 16th April the Rangers discovered an unexpected visitor under the bin inside the Visitor Centre - a small common lizard. After sitting there being admired by the Rangers it was taken up to the heathland and released nto its natural habitat.
It seems to have lost the end of its tail so maybe a bird caught it and then it dropped it near to the visitor centre. However it got there it is a reminder of the wonderful wildlife to be found on the Lickeys
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