News

The Lickey Hills Society 1984 – 2024

5^th Sep 2024

The Lickey Hills has been geologically stable for millennia, but 40 years ago, an “earthquake” occurred that shattered the idea that the Lickeys were untouchable.
The “earthquake” was a proposal by Birmingham City Council (BCC), to construct a dry ski slope on Rednal Hill. Ironically, that threat led to the creation of the Lickey Hills Society (LHS) which has promoted the conservation and enhancement of the Lickey Hills Country Park (LHCP) and its environs for 40 years.
In opposition to the ski-slope proposal, a public meeting was held on 5 November 1984 which led to the formation of the Lickey Hills Society. BCC holds the Country Park in trust, despite it being mostly situated in Worcestershire and under the planning control of Bromsgrove District Council. The LHS led the successful campaign against the ski slope which was won in March 1986 when BCC cancelled its plans.
Once this goal had been achieved, the Society began a programme of talks and walks realising that the Hills would be better protected if their natural history, geography, history and cultural heritage were promoted. No one body exclusively represented the Lickey Hills which, from the 1950s, had been suffering benign neglect. The newly formed LHS took up the mantle and as a member described it, became “the guardians of the Lickey Hills”.

See Newsletter 197 in our Newsletter Archive for more detail

Habitat Heroes

4^th Sep 2024

The Habitat Heroes volunteers who have worked on the Lickeys for 14 years are no longer supported by the Rangers and so their activities are severely restricted to light habitat maintenance. They can no longer use power tools and so no infrastructure work (path maintenance, steps, bridges, fencing, benches, drainage projects) can take place.

The Heroes are keen to continue working and the Society is providing as much support as possible to try and ensure this happens. The LHS has provided first aid kits, an Accident Book (which we hope is never needed), risk assessment documents and insurance cover. Certain documentation is still to be finalised and members of the group will need to undergo first aid training which the LHS has agreed to fund. Hopefully this support will enable to group to continue their invaluable work in the Country Park.

The final session of the Habitat Heroes working with a Park Ranger took place on May 28th 2024. Ranger Penny Marriott and the group dug and cleared ditches to improve drainage close to the entrance to the Country Park in Cherry Hill Lane.

Photo of the last session provided by Ranger Penny Marriott

Birmingham Parks Ranger Service 1984 – 2024 and Current Reorganisation

3^rd Sep 2024

Birmingham’s parks were in crisis in 1977 when their budget was slashed. No work was done in parks for a year - not even litter picking or mowing. This led to a public outcry and a threat of court action before change happened. The growing problem of vandalism in the City’s parks, culminated in the hacking down of 14 trees planted for autumn colour in Pype Hayes Park. So in August 1984 a new Ranger Service, consisting of 20 rangers was set up.

Two rangers began work in the Country Park alongside the Lickey Hills foresters.
The next few years saw big changes. Activities with the public became more important, working with schools, disadvantaged groups, with artists, writers and crafts people, with naturalists and historians and with the NHS. Nature conservation was prioritised and a new management plan drawn up.

As previously reported, due to Birmingham’s financial situation cuts have now taken place to the city’s Ranger Service. The resultant re-organisation will mean that the level of support given by the Rangers to groups like the LHS and volunteers across the city will be greatly reduced.