Staff News
We are very excited to announce that Alexis Johnson is returning to the UK and rejoining our field teaching team in March 2014. As many of you will know, Alexis has been living in the USA where she has been adding to her already extensive expertise in environmental education. We will also be welcoming Annie Ingram to the field teaching team. Annie has a wealth of knowledge and understanding of working with young people outdoors and skills in teaching orienteering, den building and team building, etc. Look out for them! They will be popping up at both reserves from March.
Many of you will already know that Wendy Murray has given birth to a little boy named Oliver. Wendy surprised everyone at Sandwell Valley on Wednesday by popping in to introduce him. Both are doing very well.
We also greet the arrival of Nadia Shadikh our new Community and Volunteer Development Officer at Sandwell Valley. She started work on 10th February. Some of us have already met her as she popped in yesterday to join us for some Fire Extinguisher training. She can’t wait to start properly and is looking forward to meeting everyone.
Keep your eyes peeled for details of a vacancy for a visitor officer. We need someone to help Alex out whilst Nicky is covering for Wendy’s maternity leave! Details will be advertised in the next few weeks.
On the reserves
Sandwell Valley
We are really rattling through the work and the mammoth task that is the South Bank scrub clearance is going well. The meadows are cut, the marsh work is finished and with a couple of days on the island to get this in top shape should mean that we are ready for when the birds start to breed again. Work on the paths, hide and the pond dipping ponds continues and in a couple of months the reserve should be in good shape for the upcoming Spring.
The Oystercatchers made an early reappearance last week, hopefully a sign of things to come! Lapwings and Snipe are using the islands in good numbers, the Water rails are making their presence felt as they squeal from the reedbed and the feeders are alive with plenty of Bullfinches, Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Great tits, Blue tits and the occasional Willow tit making an appearance.
The Baby Birds Parent & Toddler group is going from strength to strength thanks to the dedication and expertise of our fabulous Baby Bird leaders. Recently there were 23 children and 23 adults squeezed into in one morning session. A huge well done and thank you to our Baby Bird volunteers. Our morning sessions are bursting at the seams, but we still have room for a few small ones in the afternoon sessions. If you know anyone who is looking for a toddler group, ask them to give us a call at the Sandwell office.
Holiday Wildlife Club will be running again this February half term. We will be having a session for 5-7 year olds on Tuesday 18th February and for 8-12 year olds on Thursday 20th February. Sessions run from 10am-4pm and this month, it is all about herons. So if you know any youngsters who are looking for fun holiday activities, let them know about it. We are currently taking bookings for both sessions. Click here for more details on our website
Forthcoming events at Sandwell Valley: Nest box building Sunday 16th February. Contact alex.sharrod@rspb.org.uk if you would like to help!
Help please!!
We continue to receive requests for talks about both reserves. We could do with some help in delivering these – if there are any budding presenters who’d like to have a go then please contact Chris Edwards on 01827 259756. We will provide training as well as all the kit! It’s a lot of fun and brings in a considerable amount of donations!
Thanks as always for your support.
Nick Martin Senior Sites Manager
See you on the reserves,
Best regards,
Chris Edwards