It’s not much fun clearing out old toilets, but that’s what some of the volunteers have been doing in order to convert them in to space for storing some of our bulkier items such as the marquees.  Thanks especially to Arthur Ward and Steve Atkinson for preparing the space and putting security fencing round it—it provides a much needed resource for the Trust.
Despite—or because of—the rain, the trees are looking wonderful at this time of year.  There are photos on the Woods’ Facebook page taken by members when out and about, but do come and have a look for yourselves. Thanks to Chris Shortis for leading the tree walk on 12th May—still two more events coming up in May about Birdlife
Money is still coming in from Walk for the Woods participants and so far the total is £2104.  If there is any more money outstanding please can you get it to the office/shop as soon as possible.  Thanks to everyone who took part and/or sponsored those who did. It’s a real boost to the trust funds.

Thanks to everyone who donated sugar for the veteran beech tree, including a local bee keeper. We had getting on for 100 kilos! On a rather wet Sunday morning a group of volunteers watered the sugar solution into the ground which had been spiked the previous day by the groundstaff.  Now we have to hope that this will give the tree a much needed boost. If not, we may be seeing the tree coming to the end of its life and will have to plan for its felling.
The Oral History Project is getting into full swing and 6 histories have so far been taken with others in the pipeline.  We’re always interested in more stories so don’t be afraid to put your name forward, or suggest someone else, if you would like to be interviewed.
Much Ado about Nothing is the theatre in the woods production this year. It will take place on Thursday June 14th starting at 7.30 pm.  As for the previous 2 years the play will be performed by Heartbreak productions. Tickets are available from the shop and online at the Trust website ##www.warleywoods.org.uk Thanks to Derek Spires Estate Agents for their sponsorship.
Plans for the Picnic in the Park are progressing well.  This year we are having a programme that will be distributed in advance as well as being available on the day. Gem Media, who produce Bearwood Gem, are organising this for us and have sold all the advertising space.  Bearwood Promoters are organising the music and as usual there will be the Dog Show, children’s activities, golf, football and lots of stalls and other activities  If you want to have a stall please contact Kathy at the office and she can send you an application form. (420 1061). Thanks to Companion Care Vets who are sponsoring the picnic this year which is being held on Sunday 15th July.
We’re hoping to get funding for a Golf Summer School in the holidays.  As soon as we know about this we will advertise the dates.  Meanwhile for those who would like to learn golf Greg is holding 2 more ‘Learn Golf in a Day’ sessions on July 1st and July 29th.  If you’d like to sign up for either of these please contact the shop on 429 2440.
Finally just many thanks to the groups of volunteers who are helping us keep on top of things in readiness for Green Flag Award Judging Day.  Not just our regular locals, but the support we are receiving from  HSBC staff and students at Sandwell College and Baskerville School.

We’ve three walks coming up this month – all connected with the wonderful natural environment in Warley Woods.

Saturday 12th May – a tree walk with Chris Shortis at 10am.  Meet at the Pavilion.  Chris is a local resident, but he is also our expert advisor on trees at Warley Woods.  He wrote our Woodland Management Plan, does our safety surveys and offers us ideas about things like – giving our veteran beech a sugar boost.  He may be an expert, but he communicates in a really accessible way and so whether you wanted to know the basics or some of the more technical stuff you won’t be disappointed. £2 per adult, children free

Saturday 19th May – learn how to identify birds 10am – 2pm.  This is led by Liz Coleman, Warley Woods Trustee and RSPB volunteer (and professional teacher) and Steve Hodgkinson, Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.  The event is suitable for adults and teenagers.  There is some classroom style learning in the morning (fun though) and then you go out for a walk to try out what you hope you have learnt.  £5 per adult.  Meet in the Padgham Room (meeting room) at the Pavilion.

Saturday 26th May - a dawn chorus walk, 5am (yes 5am) meet at the Pavilion to walk with Matt Hadlington, Warley Woods volunteer and Sandwell Ranger.  May is the best time of the year for birdsong, so come and learn from Matt on his first event for the Trust. £2 adults, children free.

After two successful theatre years, we are going for our first Shakespeare production – again in partnership with Heartbreak Productions and sponsored by Derek Spires Estate Agents.  Tickets are onsale now either c/o Heartbreakproductions own website or through our Online Shop.  Click on the link – top right and scroll down to see the ticket products.  Adults £12, children £8 and Family Ticket (two adults, two children) £35.

Thank you to everyone who has donated sugar for our appeal. Volunteers will be out on Sunday pouring the sugar syrup into prepared holes around the veteran beech tree by the Abbey site.  We’ve done all the conventional things to help prolong its life and this is a long shot, but definately worth trying.  We have had 50kg donated so far and a promise of even more from a local bee keeper.  If you are in the park on Sunday and see something strange going on, then have a look, or lend a hand – it won’t be something that you see every day in every park.  Then keep an eye on the tree and if it bursts into extra life with lovely fresh green leaves, you’ll know why.

Last call for bags of sugar for the veteran beech tree!  On Sunday, April 22nd, volunteers will be feeding a sugar solution to the tree (pictured) to try and give it a new lease of life.  So if YOU would like to do your part in trying to preserve this wonderful veteran of the Woods please leave a bag of sugar at the shop or office before 22nd.  Many thanks. Oops!  We put the wrong date for the Volunteers Thank you evening in the last update.  It is on Tuesday May 22nd at 7 pm.  Invitations will be going out shortly.

Was it fun rolling Easter Eggs in the rain?? Yes it was if you were one of the many children and  adults who took part in the annual roll on Easter Monday.  After the roll lots of families took part in the Treasure Hunt which led back to the Pavilion and more activities.  The Painted Egg competition was won by Emily Lamb—well done to her.

We received our pack of 105 Jubilee trees and these have now been planted in the tree nursery to allow them to grow on.  The trees were too small to put straight out into the park and we hope that by putting them in the nursery for a few years we will have some much more substantial plants to plant around the site. The work was done by a group of volunteers from HSBC who are coming twice a month to our Monday afternoon volunteers sessions.  Having a group of up to 12 extra people is very helpful in enabling the regular volunteers to do some of the larger jobs on site, and we are very grateful to all the volunteers who leave their desks for an afternoon, in all weathers, to come and help at the Woods.

We’re pleased to say that Baskerville School students are returning to help out once a week with work on the site.  They have been before and find the experience to be of real benefit to the young people who come.  They will be doing a variety of jobs including planting and litter picking.

Members of the Trust recently attended the first ever Smethwick Community Awards evening.  We were pleased that the trust was shortlisted in the Community Project section.  The evening was a good opportunity to see what a range of activities are going on in Smethwick and how many volunteers and volunteer groups there are.

A reminder of the May dates.  The Oral History Story Share takes place on Wednesday May 2nd at 7.30 pm.  Our volunteers are starting to do some of the interviews and we are going to use the evening share these stories and to invite others who would like their stories told to come along and meet with us. Chris Shortis, our tree advisor, is doing one of his most informative tree walks on Saturday 12th May at 10 am.  Please come to the Pavilion just before 10.  There is a small charge and tea/coffee are provided afterwards.  The following Saturday, May 19th Liz Coleman and Steve Hodgkinson will be repeating their lesson, Learn to Identify Birds.  This involves a session in the Pavilion followed by a walk around the site, and is from 10 am to 2 pm.  Cost is £5 for adults and  children (over 13 only) are free.  Finally on Saturday 25th May at 5 am Matt Hadlington will be leading a Dawn Chorus Walk round the Woods.  So set your alarm early and come and hear and see the birds.  There will be hot drinks available afterwards.

This is the new mower we have ordered for Warley Woods this year and it should be arriving in the next few weeks.  We need four different mowers to look after the park and golf course and have been replacing them over the last few years, thanks to a series of grants from Sandwell MBC.  This mower costs £27,000 plus VAT!  Thanks Sandwell.

The three people in the picture are Lionel Rushton, Kelvin Walker and Matthew Sherrington – our trusty team of grounds staff.

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Scorecard Winners are  -  T Harris, T Johnson and S Purkis – each win a voucher for a FREE round of golf.

Competition winners are -  Front 9 Quiz  -  D Moore    Back 9 Quiz  -  D Moore    Cryptic Masters Quiz  -  D Moore

Wordsearch winner  -  J Edwards

Thank you to everyone who supported and enjoyed the Masters at Warley Woods!

We have lots going on on at Warley Woods this Easter.  First on the 9th there is the Easter Egg Roll (see post below).

On the golf course there are lots of activities to coincide with the US Masters and this includes a Junior Masters Camp on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 4th 5th and 6th with Greg, our golf professional.   Each morning there are sessions for 4-8 year olds and 9-16 years olds.  £10 per session or book all three days for £25.  0121 429 2440.

Sandwell Play Service are also back with three days of Forest Play on 4th, 5th and 11th April 10am – 3pm for 8-14 year olds and for the younger ones there is a Teddy Bear’s Picnic on 12th April 10-12 for 3-7 year olds with their parents.  Anyone wanting to come to these sessions must preregister with the Playservice on 0845 352 7853