THE VITAL work of volunteers on the Lickey Hills has been abruptly halted in another blow to the public caused by the city council’s financial turmoil.
Volunteer groups helping to keep the country park maintained have spoken out after receiving the news.
The council’s rangers, which the Standard reported in March were reducing in numbers from 33 to 20, were previously responsible for supervising volunteer groups.
Now, with the rangers no longer carrying out patrols and refocusing on risk assessments and safety inspections their ability to support volunteer groups on the Lickey Hills is not a priority for the council.
In a response, Birmingham City Council recognised their need to ‘make savings’ with the park rangers service being ‘no exception’.
The council also state the rangers service needs to be targeted towards the ‘most deprived wards in the city’.
One volunteer – 77-year-old Rubery resident Stuart Smith – who has been volunteering with the Habitat Heroes and Lickey Hills Society for a decade believes the hills remain in ‘desperate need’ of looking after and fears they will ‘deteriorate’ without the work of volunteers.
He added: “It’s a shame they’re discarding willing volunteers. We felt we were contributing worthwhile efforts to the upkeep of the hills.”
The volunteer activities referred to include improving drainage, clearing non-native and invasive vegetation, repairing vandalised areas, and maintaining heathland habitats, fences, gates, and information boards among other duties.
The Lickey Hills Society has also highlighted the reality of future maintenance possibly requiring contractors.
According to the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, parks across Birmingham benefited from £1.25 million worth of volunteer work in 2023, based on current minimum wages.
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson told the Standard: “While the level of support given previously from the Ranger Service to ‘Friends Of’ groups and community groups will have to be reduced, the Ranger Service will continue to deliver and increase delivery of community activities across 46 nominated park sites in the most deprived areas of the city.
“The parks team will of course be there to provide advice and support so that our existing Friends Groups can continue to make their contributions to their local sites as much as possible.”
