BOOTHS LANE UPDATE

Along with Committee members of the Friends Of the Queslett Nature Reserve I have been to the Booths Lane development site today and met with Representatives of  Cameron Homes and Persimmon.
We have looked extensively at the landscaping features which have been agreed and the way they will be linking with the Queslett Nature Reserve.
Pedestrion routes are being kept around the site linking up both sections of Booths Lane, Caddick Road and the reserve. A new entrance swing gate have been put in place on the Booths Lane Reserve boundary at the request of the Queslett Nature Reserve.
Restoration work including the historically accurate pointing to safe guard the foundations are continuing on the Old Booths Farm site.
We also heard that Houses should begin being built on the site early next year with an expectation the scheme will be finished in 2014.
 The new road is continuing to be worked on but the house building will mean some delays in the linking of the carriage way from one section of the site to the other due to things like health and safety implications, new lighting schemes and the eventual adaption of the road by the City of Birmingham.
We were given another assurance it is the intention of the developers to have the road relinked in the future.

I have also asked for further site visits and updates and will be pressing for the road to be brought back into use as soon as possible.


Councillor Keith Linnecor
Chair FQNR

BERT COOKE R.I.P

It was with great sadness I learnt of the passing of Bert Cooke today.
Bert helped run the Old Oscott Community Centre for many years with his wife Pauline and was a great help to many people in the area.
Bert and Pauline were also founder members of the Queslett Nature Reserve and although ill heath prevented Bert from taking part in physical activities on the reserve his excellent knowledge regarding the subject of wild life was a big help to the FQNR and the reseve its self. The FQNR will be planting a tree in the reserve in honour of Bert.
 
Bert was one of the cleverest people I have ever met he had more common sense in his little finger than most politicians I have come across.
Bert had been a little frail for a few years now but he still kept up to speed with what was going on in the area and was a mine of information.
 He also helped me throughout a time of my own great personal sadness and grief some years ago and I will never forget the help and kindness  he and his beloved wife gave me.

I will remember Bert as will all the member of the FQNR who new him.
The FOQNR would like to send our  deepest sympathy to Bert's wife Pauline and the family.

Councillor Keith Linnecor
Chair
FOQNR

TAKE A WALK ON A FROSTY MORNING.

Winter will soon be with us with the resulting cold weather. Make the most of the beauty of a frosty morning and take a walk around the Queslett Nature Reserve.
The site of frost on the grass and on branches is well worth the effort but wrap up well.

THE DARK NIGHTS ARE HERE

Now the dark nights are with us again I would urge those using the Queslett Nature Reserve to take common sense precautions when using it after dusk. be alert and should you see anything suspicious please contact the Police.
 The FQNR recommend you only use the reserve after dark if you must and it is better to have company.
Remember the reserve is a very quest place at night and that should be considered if entering the reserve.
FQNR member's and members of the NPI are reminded we ask you to be the eyes and ears of the reserve and to inform the authorities if you see any problems.

Brian Brookes

WHO HAS SAWN THE TREE DOWN

Acting on information received from Councillor Linnecor. I went to the Queslett Nature Reserve today after hearing that there had been vandalism to some tree`s. I was hoping that it was some thing minor or perhaps mis-information but when I arrived on site,I was wrong. I was absolutely horrified to see the most malicious,mindless damage to two trees that had been cut down with a chain saw. Talking to dog walkers and other members of public who use the reserve regularly. The main speculation was `kid mucking about`. Where would kids get a powerful and dangerous piece of equipment like a chain saw? If this was the case,then there is a very real cause for concern that some young people are in possession of something that requires specialist training to use. On closer inspection of one of the trees. The cut was done at an angle by someone who knew how to cut a tree in a professional manner. This was not the work of daft kids,out their faces on alcohol
but someone who knew what they were doing. The one one tree was a beautiful young oak and its leaves was turning in to Autumn colours. It probably took 20 years to grow, provided food and habitat for wildlife. Now it won`t ever reach maturity of a magnificent oak just because of some one who has warped idea of what passes as some kind of  entertainment was to cut it down with a chain saw.
Brenda Wilson
secretary