Black Country news and blogs Sunday 28 June 2015
Environment
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Westminster
Seals: Conservation | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers 
TWFY: Ian Austin MP (Labour) Dudley North 24 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to improve protection for the seal population.
Westminster
Seals: Scotland | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
TWFY: Ian Austin MP (Labour) Dudley North 24 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on (a) the effects of seals on fishing populations, (b) minimising the need to kill seals to maintain fishing populations…
Westminster
Pesticides: EU Law | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
TWFY: Jim Cunningham MP (Labour) Coventry S 22 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received from the UK grower community on repeal of the ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Westminster
Bees: Conservation | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
TWFY: Jack Dromey MP (Labour) Erdington 22 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the sustainability of the UK’s honeybee population.
News
Time running out for Burntwood in Bloom entries
Lichfield Mercury 20 Jun 15
ENTRY forms for this year’s Burntwood in Bloom competition are still available from the town council offices but there are just a couple of weeks left to submit them.
Local news
Rare insect not seen for a century in Sutton Coldfield park…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 19 Jun 15
A RARE wasp was discovered at a Sutton Coldfield beauty spot after a 30-hour survey of wildlife by experts and members of the public.
News
Burntwood parishioners add voice to Pope’s climate call to…
Lichfield Mercury 19 Jun 15
BURNTWOOD churchgoers have been adding their voice to a call from the Pope to take action to protect the environment and tackle climate change.
Blog feature
EcoPark Family Fun Day – Raft Making
The Wildlife Trust 18 Jun 15
Date / Time Start date: Wed, 26/08/2015 – 10:00am – 3:00pm Thu, 27/08/2015 – 10:00am – 3:00pm Time details: Children MUST be accompanied by an adult Thanks to players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery, this summer we are running a series of free family…
Blog feature
EcoPark Family Fun Day – Pond Dipping & Make a Colourful Dragonfly
The Wildlife Trust 18 Jun 15
Date / Time Start date: Wed, 19/08/2015 – 10:00am – 3:00pm Thu, 20/08/2015 – 10:00am – 3:00pm Fri, 21/08/2015 – 10:00am – 3:00pm Time details: Children MUST be accompanied by an adult Thanks to players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery, this summer we …
Westminster
Air Quality (Glasgow) | Oral Answers to Questions – Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Commons debates
TWFY: Caroline Spelman MP (Conservative) Meriden 18 Jun 15
Scotland, in common with 27 member states of the European Union, is non-compliant with the EC arrangements.
Westminster
Air Quality (Glasgow) | Oral Answers to Questions – Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Commons debates
TWFY: Caroline Spelman MP (Conservative) Meriden 18 Jun 15
Scotland, in common with 27 member states of the European Union, is non-compliant with the EC arrangements.
News
Award for Whittington and Fisherwick Parish Council
Lichfield Live 18 Jun 15
A parish council in Lichfield has been praised for its “social conscience and commitment to the environment”.
News
Chasewater will not be sold, county councillor vows
Lichfield Live 17 Jun 15
Chasewater will not be sold, a county councillor has vowed.
News
‘Real’ extra care housing for older people can cut NHS costs by 38% – research
24dash 17 Jun 15
Combining housing, health and social care services can have a dramatic impact on the quality of life of older people, while cutting costs at the same time, new research revealed today.
Blog comment
The Problem with the Green Party
Redbrick 16 Jun 15
Matt Capaldi suggests that the Green Party’s extremist stance on the environment may be working against its cause.
Business
Lichfield Business Improvement District allows traders to ‘take ownership’ of retail environment
Lichfield Live 16 Jun 15
Plans for a Business Improvement District in Lichfield will allow city centre traders to take control of their area, a new report has claimed.
Westminster
Food: Waste | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
TWFY: Richard Burden MP (Labour) Northfield 16 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle food waste in supermarkets.
Local news
St Chad’s Association Mass
Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham 15 Jun 15
On Sunday 14th June, Archbishop Bernard Longley celebrated the Association of St Chad’s Mass in the beautiful adorned cathedral of St Chad.
Local news
Lauren Hall, Suburban Environment
The Moseley Exchange 15 Jun 15
Opening Event, 6th of July ; 7.30 – 8.30 pm Exhibition from 7th of July – 8th of September; 9.00 am – 7-00 pm Her practice explores the suburban environment with particular emphasis on the uncanny and the hidden human …
Local news
Wheelie bins go uncollected in Sutton Coldfield and Erdington as…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 13 Jun 15
NEW refuse lorries brought in to manage waste from wheelie bins have broken down causing delays to collections in Sutton Coldfield.
Local news
Witton Lodge Community Association in Erdington wins two top…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 13 Jun 15
A PIONEERING community group in Erdington is celebrating after scooping two top environment awards in recognition of its work.
Blog feature
A Celebration Of Dance
Pool Hayes Arts & Community School 12 Jun 15
A Celebration of Dance On Wednesday evening Pool Hayes dancers who attend the Black Country Dance Hub participated in the ‘Celebration of Dance’ Evening held at Walsall Academy.
Westminster
Bats: Churches | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Written Answers
TWFY: Caroline Spelman MP (Conservative) Meriden 10 Jun 15
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the application and interpretation of provisions in the Habitats Directive on bats inhabiting church premises in other EU member…
Local news
Birmingham Metropolitan College Border at the BBC Gardener’s World Live
Birmingham Metropolitan College 9 Jun 15
Come and visit our show border created by conservation students studying at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens at this year's BBC Gardener's World Live Show at the NEC Birmingham between 11th and 14th June 2015.
Blog feature
Pool Hayes Take ‘The Big Tidy Up’ into Our Local Community
Pool Hayes Arts & Community School 8 Jun 15
We have been working hard to improve pour school environment with lots of new facilities, updated décor and even a school barbecue court, but one of our long-term commitments has been our anti-litter campaign.
Blog comment
Willenhall fire fighters prepared for hazardous events thanks to new equipment
Cllr Ian Shires: LibDem - Willenhall North 7 Jun 15
Published on Walsall Advertiser and The YamYam 6 Jun 15 WILDLIFE and the environment will get even greater protection from hazardous incidents after a specialist unit was launched at Willenhall fire station.
News
Willenhall firefighters prepared for hazardous events thanks to…
Walsall Advertiser 6 Jun 15
WILDLIFE and the environment will get even greater protection from hazardous incidents after a specialist unit was launched at Willenhall fire station.
Local news
Volunteers invited to join nature trail at BioBlitz event in…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 6 Jun 15
WILDLIFE enthusiasts are being invited to help discover as many plant and animal species as possible in a mammoth survey at a popular Sutton Coldfield beauty spot.
Blog comment
The Diversity of Staffordshire
Staffordshire CC: Chief Exec's blog - Nick Bell 3 Jun 15
Last Friday delivered one of those contrasts that one can only experience in a diverse organisation like Staffordshire County Council.
News
Bee-friendly gardens throw open their gates for Whittington event
Lichfield Live 2 Jun 15
A feast of flowers and fairy doors awaits visitors to Whittington’s first-ever open gardens events.
999
Entering Mental Health Units
Mental Health Cop 1 Jun 15
What is the role of the police when it comes to disturbances or disorder on inpatient mental health units? – when is it reasonable and responsible to call police officers into a therapeutic environment?! We’ll see these questions…
News
‘Threatened’ North Warwickshire landscape to be restored by…
Tamworth Herald 31 May 15
MULTI-MILLION pound works aimed at ‘restoring and reconnecting’ a ‘fragmented’ landscape in North Warwickshire are underway.
News
Venkman thrive in Lichfield Bower’s music tent
Lichfield Mercury 31 May 15
EVENTS like this are a tricky one – often bleaching acts of character, and making enjoying them difficult.
Local news
Students get fast track to survey state of the art Speedy equipment
Birmingham Metropolitan College 29 May 15
Stourbridge College students studying for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Construction the Built Environment benefited from a demonstration of state-of-the-art surveying equipment recently by a representative of Speedy – the UK’s leading …
Blog feature
How to Protect & Clean Leather Sofas
Fashionmommy's Blog 28 May 15
Leather sofas can be an incredible centre piece for your living room: they add an irresistible element of luxury to any environment.
News
Care work students scoop prizes in world’s biggest vocational skills competition
Community Care 28 May 15
It’s not often care workers get recognition for the support they give people every day – let alone win prizes for it, but a competition held this month aims to change all that.
Blog music
Rhodri Davies Profile
Supersonic festival 26 May 15
The usual: peace, love, the environment and getting rid of the Tories.
News
Experts warn of bumper year for wasps in Staffordshire
Tamworth Herald 22 May 15
PEST experts are warning of a bumper year for wasps in Staffordshire.
Blog feature
Introducing Julia
Lightwoods Park 21 May 15
Hello My name is Julia Morris and I am the new Lightwoods Park and House Community Engagement Officer.
Local news
Residents call for action at fly-tipping hot-spot in Royal Sutton…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 19 May 15
ANGRY residents are calling for action to be taken after fly-tippers dumped 25 bags of garden waste at the back of houses in Royal Sutton Coldfield in broad daylight last weekend.
News
Six-week event will give Walsall streets a spruce up
Walsall Advertiser 18 May 15
VOLUNTEERS are being sought for a six-week clean up, which will spruce up communities across Walsall.
Local news
Dangerous cable box in Sutton Coldfield took six weeks to repair
Sutton Coldfield Observer 16 May 15
A ‘DANGEROUS’ cable box at a road junction in Sutton Coldfield had wires exposed for six weeks.
News
Walsall care home transforms room into pub for dementia patients
Walsall Advertiser 16 May 15
DEMENTIA patients at a Walsall care home can now reminisce over a pint after bosses transformed a disused room into a pub.
Blog comment
A localising message from former MP Andrew George and journalist George Monbiot
Localise West Midlands 15 May 15
Former MP Andrew George sent an email message today; though no longer in Parliament, he wants to work with colleagues of all parties to create a progressive alliance to challenge and oppose government action detrimental to those who need help, our …
Blog feature
Introducing Julia
Lightwoods Park 15 May 15
Hello, My name is Julia Morris and I am the new Lightwoods Park and House Community Engagement Officer.
Local news
Introducing Julia
Bearwood Blog 15 May 15
Hello, My name is Julia Morris and I am the new Lightwoods Park and House Community Engagement Officer.
Local news
Family fun day will launch new wildlife education area in Sutton…
Sutton Coldfield Observer 15 May 15
SPRING will be in the air in Sutton Coldfield this weekend when a group of volunteers hold a special family fun day to launch a new wildlife education area.
Local news
New Birmingham Graduate Hub project to boost city’s “renaissance”
Birmingham Eastside 12 May 15
A new project will give graduates the chance to play their part in the “renaissance of Birmingham”.
Blog feature
Fundraising Administration Volunteer
St Mary's Hospice 6 May 15
Fundraising Administration Volunteer – 1 day per week (Monday Tuesday) (8.30am 12.30pm // 12.30pm 4.30pm) This Fundraising Administration Volunteer role is ideal for anyone wanting to volunteer for half a day to a full day per week in an …
Blog feature
Wolverhampton Watch group – camouflage
The Wildlife Trust 6 May 15
Date / Time Start date: Sun, 14/06/2015 – 10:00am – 12:00pm This fun session will be looking athow creatures adapt to their environment by using camouflage.