PEOPLE will be able to have their say on a potential new regional park in Bromsgrove at two public meetings this week.
The proposed 8 Hills regional park would be a 50 square mile area on the southern edge of Birmingham, within Bromsgrove District.
There would also be potential to include neighbouring green areas in Birmingham and the Black Country.
A regional park is a large area with several different landowners and uses including farming, recreation and places to live and work.
The potential park is the brainchild of The National Trust, which has been talking to the district council about creating it as part of the authority’s local plan policy.
The Trust has set up two meetings to hear people’s views on projects for people and nature in the regional park, and how getting around the area could be improved.
The feedback from these meetings, as well as discussions with landowners and other organisations, will help the Trust to find any challenges.
It will also help them to prioritise projects.
The first public meeting will take place on Friday (August 11) between midday and 5pm at Lickey Hills Country Park.
A second event will be held the following day at The Beaches in Kings Norton from 10am until 4pm.
The project will aim to protect the landscape and its biodiversity.
However, the regional park would not aim to stop new houses from being developed.
Instead, it would look to boost nature, promote walking and cycling and sustainable farming while also fitting in potential new homes.
A plan would be created to ensure any new developments would benefit nature and people’s access to green space.
Canal and river corridors would be enhanced under the plans and funding would be given to local farmers to help them manage the land, ensure the water remains clean and fight climate change.
The Trust has also laid out nine opportunities it aims to follow through with.
These include creating an 8 Hills trail, a new country park and heritage trails, a seasonal shuttle bus service and a network of quiet lanes on existing country roads.
The consultation will last until Monday, September 4.
Visit www.8-hills-regional-park-spatial-framework.co.uk/ to take part in the consultation online and for kore information on 8 Hills Regional Park.
