Locals may have noticed some work going on in Westley Vale Millennium Green in the last week or so. Firstly the Wildlife Trust suggested that the slope in the vale would be perfect for a wildflower meadow. This is part of the work that the charity do to enhance the environment for wildlife. The flowers will encourage bees, butterflies and other useful pollinating insects.

The Wildlife Trust clearing the ground ready for seed-sowing.

Three people from the Wildlife Trust arrived to clear the ground ready for the planting a couple of weeks ago. The next stage is to put down a fast-acting weedkiller. For the flowers to flourish they need to get rid of perennial couch grass and other ground covering plants. The seeds will then be sown and will flower early summer. Below is a message from the Wildlife Trust about our meadow:

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country and The Westley Vale Millennium Green Trust are creating a meadow here!
Meadows are great for wildflowers, meadow grasses and the bees, butterflies and small mammals that live in them. The grass in this area has been cut and will be treated to create a seedbed for the new meadow. The treatment is not harmful to people or animals. In a few weeks the area will be sown with meadow species and within two to three years a perennial meadow abundant with flowers will establish. 

More Improvements

Also earlier in the year the trustees applied for a grant to improve the site from the Tesco carrier bag fund. This grant is now being spent. Some of the pathways are being improved and the broken numbered posts that make up a nature trail are being replaced. To coincide with this there will be a map of the Millennium Green featuring the numbered trail, pointing out what to notice on the walk around our precious hidden green space.