THE LICKEY Hills Society has vowed to continue its support for a prominent volunteer group after recent council cuts have put their volunteering work at risk.
The long-standing Habitat Heroes volunteer group were dealt a blow this summer when Birmingham City Council’s cost saving measures meant a reduction in rangers prevents them overseeing volunteer groups on the hills.
A total of four rangers are based at Lickey Hills but are no longer carrying out patrols or chaperoning volunteer groups in order to focus on risk assessments and safety inspections at the country park and green spaces in Northfield, Selly Oak, Edgbaston and Ladywood.
Therefore work carried out by the 14 year running Habitat Heroes which requires the use of power tools such as maintenance of paths, steps, bridges, fencing, benches, or drainage projects will no longer be viable.
When the reduction in rangers was announced, The Lickey Hills Society warned of its impacts on the ability of volunteer groups to support necessary maintenance within the country park.
Despite this, the society are determined to help facilitate the Habitat Heroes’ ongoing work and have announced it has provided first aid kits, an accident book, risk assessment documents and insurance cover for the group.
A spokesperson for the society said: “The heroes are keen to continue working and the society is providing as much support as possible to try and ensure this happens.
“Certain documentation is still to be finalised and members of the group will need to undergo first aid training which the society has agreed to fund.
“Hopefully this support will enable to group to continue their invaluable work in the Country Park.”
If the work of the Habitat Heroes remains restricted they will be limited to light habitat maintenance such as clearing non-native and invasive vegetation and maintaining heathland habitats among other tasks.
