Latest news with #SmestowValley
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Midsummer festival to showcase Wolverhampton 'hidden gem'
Yoga, nature walks and bug hunts will take place at a "hidden gem's" summer solstice Valley Midsummer Festival in Wolverhampton also promises visitors live music from local band Just in Time, children's crafts and refreshments from the reserve's want to let people know more about improvement works at the site, which have included the planting of wildflower meadows and the restoration of 4.5km-long (2.7 mile) canal-side site, off Meadow View Terrace and next to a railway line, forms part of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark. Last year, City of Wolverhampton Council, the Canal and River Trust and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust were given £217,000 in lottery funding to develop £2m restoration application will be submitted next year and, if successful, funds will be used to restore a 1914 railway bridge, know as the Meccano bridge, and other structures on the disused railway council said it had also worked with Wildside Activity Centre, Friends of Smestow Valley and Waterside Care on developments at the nature reserve.A spokesperson says they hope the valley will in time attract more school visits, volunteers and community events. Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal said people were coming together to "create a green space that we can all be proud of"."Smestow Valley is a real hidden gem in the city", he event takes place from 10:00 to 15:00 BST on 21 June. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Local views wanted to help preserve Wolverhampton nature reserve
Wolverhampton residents are being invited to give their views on ways to protect and develop the wildlife, heritage and natural beauty of Smestow Valley Local Nature Valley and rail network is a 4.5km long site - forming part of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark - with a history dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. The online consultation is looking at the reasons why people visit the nature reserve, why it is important to them and how it can be improved to benefit all communities across the is also exploring how to best protect and promote the unique historic features at the valley, and how to improve signage and information about the heritage of the site. As well as the online survey, in-person consultations are gathering opinions on improving access into and throughout the results will help inform the next phase of the ongoing project to Explore, Enhance, Protect and Promote Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve, according to City of Wolverhampton year, the council, together with partners Canal & River Trust and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, secured funding of £217,000 from The Heritage Lottery Fund to put towards developing plans for a full application of around £2m, to be submitted in the application for this delivery phase is successful, renovation of the Meccano bridge is planned, along with other structures linked to the disused railway line which forms the main path through Smestow council said gathering views and opinions through the consultation would be essential in helping to secure funding to deliver these future improvements, and would also help to share the heritage of the valley with a wider the initial development phase, the council has worked with partners Canal & River Trust and Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust as well as the Wildside Activity Centre, Friends of Smestow Valley and Waterside to the local authority, the partnership approach has seen a wide range of activity at the site, including improvements to the canal towpath, planting wildflower meadows, restoring historic ponds and hedges and planting native flowers, including bluebells and wild activities, which were funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, helped develop a range of volunteering opportunities, as well as an approach to volunteering for the future. Over time, the whole project at Smestow Valley aims to increase engagement through school visits, heritage-focused volunteering opportunities, biodiversity enhancements, community events, artwork and interpretation, as well as online Bhupinder Gakhal said: "Smestow Valley is a real hidden gem in the city and we'd love anyone who enjoys visiting it to come forward and give their thoughts on how it can be developed and protected for the future." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
