Coalface to wildspace: creating wildlife corridors with Walsall communities

Photograph of a group of children playing near a pond.
The Froglife Trust teaches children about amphibians, including frogs, toads and salamanders

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £10,000 to £250,000

Date awarded
Location
Brownhills
Local Authority
Walsall
Applicant
The Froglife Trust
Award Given
£248148
This project aims to create urban and semi-natural wildlife corridors for reptiles and amphibians while engaging local communities in creative activities.

The Froglife Trust is embarking on an ambitious project to restore natural habitats across eight sites in Walsall and the West Midlands, which is a priority area for our funding as one of our Areas of Focus. The charity is planning 40 wildlife interventions including pond creation, wildflower meadows, frog cafés and creative interpretation.

Photograph of four people standing in front of a dig.
Participants in the project will create new ponds and sow wildflower meadows

 

To raise awareness about the need to conserving species neglected by today's urban environments, they will create an immersive film for schools and community groups. This will focus on the changing landscape and highlight the importance of these adaptable creatures as a central part of our eco-system and natural heritage.

This project is all about engaging local people with nature, encouraging positive action and raising awareness and curiosity of local, social and natural heritage.

Christina Nijjar, Coalface to Wildspace Midlands Project Manager

Our funding will also enable Froglife Trust to create:

  • intergenerational wildlife gardening and model workshops to encourage the building of wildlife homes in urban neighbourhoods
  • sculpture and soundscape installations at various sites across the region to increase awareness and celebrate the project's achievements
  • high quality local green spaces for local diverse ethnic communities in highly deprived areas
Photograph of three people digging in a woodland area
The Froglife Trust's focus on amphibian conservation aims to increase populations of species including Common Toads, Common Frogs and Smooth Newts.

 

Christina Nijjar, Coalface to Wildspace Midlands Project Manager said: "This project is all about engaging local people with nature, encouraging positive action and raising awareness and curiosity of local, social and natural heritage.

"We have had a fantastic response from Walsall residents so far and we hope this project will ultimately help improve the health and wellbeing of both the people and the place. All of this is possible through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and players of the lottery. Watch this (wild) space!"

Keep up to date with the project on the Froglife website.

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