Project summary:
A grant was awarded to support the employment of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) to lead on the development and implementation of a community liaison programme to encourage more visitors to Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve. There is a dedicated group of volunteers who work on the site and promote an understanding of Sandwell’s rich biodiversity in a unique urban location. It is hoped that the CLO will enthuse more people to join this team.

Lee Copplestone as CLO will lead a programme of community talks targeted at sections of the local community who would not normally come in to contact with the LNR. He will promote the LNR’s formal education programme to new schools and youth groups with a series of outreach talks. Additionally he will facilitate the making of a ‘community film’ of Sandwell, a film that will focus on Sandwell’s wildlife and people throughout the seasons and give the local community the opportunity to be a part of it.

Lee will also increase the number of opportunities for volunteers to participate in practical conservation activities. He will work across all age ranges to provide a local community ‘wildlife enquiries’ service from the LNR to help encourage community interest in birds, their habitats and conservation. A promotion plan will be developed to include the production of a multi-lingual leaflet distributed via: libraries; Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council outlets; local environmental networks; media releases; magazine articles; schools and youth groups; posters and promotion on the regional RSPB web page.