JOINT STATEMENT FQNR/ODG

FRIENDS OF QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE
& OSCOTT DISABILITY GROUP

JOINT STATEMENT


CHAIR; FQNR CHAIR; ODG
COUNCILLOR KEITH LINNECOR GEORGE HOUGH


It has been agreed by the committees of our groups that the FQNR and the ODG should endeavour to work closely together to try and insure where possible disabled members (and their supporters) are encouraged to enjoy out door activities. With this in mind it has been decided that the members of the ODG are given joint membership with the FQNR (and vice versa.)
This does not mean these groups are merging as the committee will remain independent of each other, but it is intended that more co-operation will be expected.

It is the aim of this joint venture to encourage
· More disabled people to enjoy activities in the Queslett Nature Reserve.
· Activities such as guided walks (where practical.)
· Improve access to the reserve.
· Encouraging activities such as general gardening type activities such as light pruning/ and planting on the reserve. (As agree by the committee’s: ref parks management)
· To ensure wild life is safe guarded.

A SUCESSFUL SITE MEETING TAKES PLACE

Thanks to our Chairman Councillor Keith Linnecor a site meeting on the Queslett Nature Reserve between senior Parks department officers and members of the FQNR took place yesterday.
We were on site for the whole morning and met up with Councillor Barbara Dring and a passing Police Officer. (yes the Police do patrol the Queslett Nature Reserve regularly).
There was an extensive tour of the site where many issues were raised and future work plans discussed. The officers were very impressed with the work the FQNR had done and gave permission for a number of other tasks to be carried out.
The Officers involved promised to go away and try and solve a number of problems which they were informed about. For example the state of the lake with all the life savings rings thrown in, the need for some large stumps to be removed and the grass cutting regime.
All in all it was a successful site meeting and time well spent.

PLEASE SAY NO TO FOOTBALL PITCHES ON THE RESERVE

I was very disappointed last week to hear at a meeting with the Police I attended an Oscott Councillor say that the Queslett Nature Reserve was not a reserve but an old land fill site where football pitches and a skate boards Centre should be put.
The Friends of the Reserve have for 2 years worked hard to improve this site and more and more different kinds of wild life are slowly appearing on it. It is a rest full place to be in and the thought of having football pitches, changing rooms and skate board centres horrifies me. Just think of the damage it would do to the reserve and the amount of problems regarding antisocial behavior it would bring. I am not anti children and a small kick about area for youngsters would be ok but not football pitches and so on.
There are enough football pitches in the area already surely. Just look at the Aldridge Recreation Ground which is 5 minutes away. Al;so I understand a top class brand new skate Board Centre is to be built on the Oscott side of Perry Barr Park just down the road and close to all the bus routes. No as a resident I do not want football pitches on the reserve.

FQNR Member and Local Resident.


If you have a letter about the Queslett Nature Reserve (or the Aldridge Recreation Ground) please send it to the FQNR C/o Mike Trevor, Perry Barr District Office , Bridge House College Road Perry Barr.

QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE ACTIVITY DAY

It was really good to see so many young people helping out at last weeks Queslett Nature Reserve Activity day. A number of students came along to help us prune path ways back, get rubbish out of the lake and litter pick.



We also manged to get some log benches put in place.
The Queslett Nature Reserve is slowly with the help of volunteers getting to look more like a Nature Reserve. Lets just hope now e are getting some where no one comes along and tries to ruin the good work the Friends of the Queslett nature Reserve are doing.





N. Quinn FQNR