THE LAKE LOOKS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL

The lake on the Queslett Nature Reserve seems to be back to its normal level at last. It is sad to note most of the swans seem to have gone and the lake looks a bit lonely at the moment.
The reserve as a whole is so much tideir than it used to be.

BRIAN

WE ARE NOW ON TWITTER

Freinds Q.N.Reserve ‏ @FreindsQ

The Freinds of the Queslett Nature Reserve care about its wildlife queslettnaturereserve.blogspot.co.uk

WASH YOUR HAND WHEN YOU HAVE LEFT THE RESERVE

Given that a number of people have  contracted E:Coli following visits to Sutton Park in recent weeks which has prompted  health chiefs to issue major warning to the public about it.
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RE The West Midlands Health Protection Agency is warning parents that the infection, E.coli O157 can cause serious illness, including vomiting and kidney failure.
The City Council has announced it is increasing hand washing facilities at the Park, which is Birmingham’s largest, but is advising concerned families to consider using other parks and open spaces.
Dr Roger Gajraj said: “The best protection against E.coli is to always wash your hands, especially after contact with animals, after going to the toilet and immediately before eating. I would also advise cyclists and walkers to wash their tyres, footwear and their hands after visiting Sutton Park as an extra precaution."

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WHILE IM NOT AWARE OF ANY SIMILAR REPORTS REGARDING THE QUESLETT NATURE RESERVE. I would suggest as a safety and common sense precaution that you take similar steps after using the Queslett Nature Reserve. There are no taps in the reserve but  you should remember to take precautions before eating and as soon as you can after leaving the reserve. In simple terms at least wash your hands BUT ALSO  FOLLOW THE ABOVE GUIDELINES and if you do feel ill seek medicle advise.

Councillor Keith Linnecor

Chair of FQNR

BOOTHS LANE UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2012

Following a number of rumours regarding the Booths Lane development I have been to see for myself with senior officers from Cameron Homes what is happening on site.

The drainage works are well underway and are very impressive. They include a overspill drain from the lake on the Queslett Nature Reserve along with other storm and sewage pipe works.

The road is gradually being laid out and it is hoped to start putting down Tarmac sometime next month. However there still needs to be a lot done to get the road up to standard for example street lamps and pavements. With this in mind it is not yet known when the road will reopen but  I have again been assured it will be..

The house builders may start work on site in a couple of months.?

There will be some minor changes in the foot path lay out including extending a path into the reserve with a new gate to be supplies by the developer. Some fencing on the reserve will be removed on a very temporary basis to allow work to proceed more quickly. (it will be put back.) .There is still a lot of work to be done on levelling gradients for landscaping work. There is a lot of care being taken to remove unsuitable soil from the site. There will also be in the region of 100 new trees planted on the site many on the buffer between the reserve and the new development.

The boundary wall Caddick Road side is coming on well and fencing will be put on the top of the wall for added security.


Councillor Keith Linnecor
Chair
FQNR

BOOTHS FARM

As part of the Booths Road development agreement the Farm once belonging to William Booth the farmhouse old time forger has been unearthed. The ground plan has been exposed and the footing of the building will be re pointed by experts in the field with original materials.
It is intended the site will be part of an open corridor between the Queslett Nature Reserve and the near by Perry Barr Nature reserve and Turnbury Park.



William Booth (born Hall End Farm  Warwickshire, 1776,(sources vary); and was hanged 12 August 1812), one of eight children of a farmer and church warden, John Booth, and his wife Mary, was a farmer and a forger who lived in Oscott Birmingham. He is the subject of the song "Twice Tried, Twice Hung, Twice Buried" by John Raven
On 28 February 1799, Booth signed a 25-year lease for what became known (by 1821 if not earlier as ‘Booth’s Farm’, including a farmhouse and 200 acres of land, part of the near by Perry hall estate.
He was accused of murdering his brother John while revisiting Hall End on 19 February 1808, but was acquitted for lack of evidence.
He converted the top floor of the farmhouse into a workshop where he produced forgeries of coins and banknotes.^] He was caught, tried at Stafford Assizes and sentenced to hang. His accomplices were sentenced to transportation to Australia.
Booth's execution was bungled, and he fell through the scaffold's trap door, to the floor. Within two hours, he was hung again and died. He was one of, if not the, last people to be sentenced to death in England for forgery.
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, Handsworth. The inscription on his gravestone reads:

Sacred to the memory of William Booth who departed this life August 12th 1812 aged 33 years. Also Charlotte daughter of William and Mary Booth who died August 13th 5 months.

Following a change of county boundary, his body was disinterred and reburied.
Booth also minted genuine tokens as a cover for his forging activities. Several of his tokens, forgeries and printing plates are in the collection of Birmingham museum
The farmhouse was demolished in 1974, and the farm became a sand and gravel quarry, having given its name to the still-extant Booths Lane and Booths Farm Road. Until the late 1920s, it was occupied by the Foden Family, commemorated in Foden Road.

It is really good to see someone cares about the wild life around here. The Friends of the Queslett Nature reserve are doing a good Job
 Keep up the good work.

K.MacKay

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REPORT BACK AUGUST ACTIVITY DAY

The activity day back on August 11th was a great success. Pruning work near the Old Horns crescent entrance was carried out and a number of black bags of litter were collected and disposed of. There was also a new sign errected.
We had a Parks Ranger in attendance and signed up a number of new members.
Thanks to all those who took part.

Brian Brookes

FUNDING TO IMPROVE ALDRIDGE ROAD RECREATION GROUND A STEP NEARER

The Oscott  Councillors with the help of the Friends of the Queslett Nature Reserve (who also look after the interests of the Aldridge Recreation Ground) are still lobbying hard for funding to help up grade the Aldridge Road Recreation ground.

Work is needed to improve the entrances to prevent access by motor bikes and the path across the reserve needs work done it to improve it.

Those who read my blog will know this upgrade work is something I have been pushing for years and now with the united help of all the Oscott Councillors and the FQQNR things are looking more promising.
The item will be discussed at the next Oscott Ward Committee October 4th.

Councillor Keith Linnecor
Chair
FOQNR