A new survey from the National Lottery Community Fund has revealed that three quarters of people (75%) in the West Midlands say the environment will be important to them in 2020. The survey also found that almost 60% of people in the region agree that if everyone makes small changes, we can make a positive difference in the environment.

People say they will be reducing the amount of plastics used, recycling more and cutting back on food waste.

One project which has already taken environment action is The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, which was awarded £10,000 in 2018 to support volunteers who look after Peascroft Wood in Bilston, Walsall, locally known as ‘the Fozza’.

Volunteers carry out a wide range of activities including planting native woodland flowers, planting and weeding hedgerows and carrying out litter picks. Over the past five years, they have worked hard to re-create the meadow and transform it into an inviting place for children to play and make dens, local people to walk their dogs and schools to hold environmental education sessions.

Thanks to the new National Lottery funding, the group was able to support 21 volunteers, providing them with tools and training in leadership and first aid, so that they could carry on restoring the area for local people and wildlife to enjoy.