TAME, ANKER AND MEASE CATCHMENT ACTION MANAGEMENT PLAN March 2017

Severn Trent & Wildlife Trust Trent Rivers Trust Wildlife Trust

Contents Foreward ...... 3 A Message from Severn Trent ...... 4 Introduction ...... 5 Catchment Vision ...... 7 Catchment Objectives ...... 7 Catchment Challenges ...... 7 Data and Evidence ...... 8 Catchment Characterisation ...... 8 Birmingham and the Black Country ...... 8 North and West Warwickshire ...... 9 East and West ...... 10 Maps of river/water body status ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Catchment Project Plans ...... 13 Catchment Priorities ...... 13 Project Tracker ...... 17 Case Studies ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Monitoring and Evaluation ...... 18 Appendix ...... 20 Stakeholders...... 20

Foreward

On World Water Day, 22nd March 2011, Richard Benyon (Minister for the Natural Environment) announced the launch of the Government’s Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) through the Environment Agency. The aim of these CaBA partnerships was to set up improved ways of engaging with people and organisations to make a difference to the health of all our inland waters, from source to sea. The intention was that these partnerships would commit to a more catchment- based approach by sharing information, working together, and co-ordinating work. The products of which will enable the delivery of the EU Water Framework Directive in a more effective and coordinated way. The Tame, Anker and Mease Catchment Partnership is hosted by Severn Trent. Due to its large size it has then been further split into 3 sub-catchments hosted by the following partners:  Upper Tame - Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country  Middle Tame and Anker - Warwickshire Wildlife Trust  Lower Tame and Mease - Trent Rivers Trust

A Message from Severn Trent

“It’s Severn Trent’s vision to be the most trusted water company by 2020; by delivering an outstanding customer experience, providing the best value service, and demonstrating environmental leadership. We’re continuously looking for ways to protect our environment and build resilience into our network for the future. What better way to do this than to work in partnership with stakeholders to improve and sustain our local water network and surrounding environment. It’s possible to achieve far more for the environment by working in partnership than if we all worked individually.

CaBA partnership working is also an important part of Defra’s vision: for decision making and deliveries on environmental improvements to come from a catchment scale; built on local joined- up approaches.

This catchment action management plan for the Tame, Anker and Mease catchment takes exactly this joined up, collaborative approach to achieving positive environmental outcomes. It’s a plan we strongly support.

We look forward to working closely with our catchment partners and stakeholders to deliver more tangible benefits over the coming years.”

Liv Garfield Chief Executive Severn Trent

Introduction The Tame, Anker and Mease (TAM) catchment covers a large area of the , and therefore has considerable diversity of landscape and land-use across the catchment area.

There are 65 water bodies in total in the TAM catchment - 47 Rivers (15 of which have been classed as heavily modified), 14 and 4 lakes. The larger of these rivers include the river Tame, Rea, Cole, Bourne, Blythe (SSSI), Anker, Sence, Mease (SSSI and SAC), and the from its confluence with the River Tame to the River Dove.

The rivers within this catchment mainly pass through urban areas; including the southern part of , , , Birmingham, , , Tamworth and Burton-upon-Trent. Heavy industry has had a large influence on the water bodies in the area though this has declined over recent years. Due to the highly urbanised nature of a large part of the catchment, the largest inputs to the system come from sewage treatment works. During low flow periods, a large proportion of the river flows is made up of these discharges. By far the largest input comes from Minworth sewage treatment works which discharges treated effluent from Birmingham into the River Tame at . The whole catchment is a very important angling resource for the highly populated area it serves and comprises of 80 or more clubs. Historically, water quality has been the main cause for poor fisheries in the River Tame. In 1980 a series of lakes were created at Lea Marston from old gravel workings. The River Tame was then diverted through these lakes to provide settlement lagoons to protect downstream reaches from dry weather and storm impacts. This helps in mitigating large pollution events from affecting the lower reaches of the River Tame and downstream on the River Trent.

Catchment Vision Our catchment has a sustainable and diverse water environment that is valued for the benefits it brings to people, the economy of the region and the natural environment. It has improved resilience to climate change, flooding and pollution events, and is in good ecological condition. People from many sectors and disciplines across the catchment are committed to caring for the catchment by working together, and using innovation, to capitalise on the opportunities presented and solutions to the challenges faced.

Catchment Objectives  To promote the value of rivers, streams and wetlands and to increase their natural capacity to ameliorate the impacts of flooding and pollution.  To create a more sustainable and diverse water environment that is a valued asset for the economy, people and the natural environment  To work with local stakeholders to harness their support and enthusiasm to address the opportunities and challenges faced by the water environment and to optimise the benefits.  To enhance the quality of the natural environment for the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing, giving access to aesthetic and enjoyable landscapes which are rich in wildlife.

Catchment Challenges Given the large and diverse nature of the catchment there are number of challenges the TAM CABA partnership face:  Engaging with a potential audience of two million people - how do we engage this population and get a fair representation of views  Densely populated urban areas with a large variety of cultures and nationalities  Producing a coherent and workable vision for a catchment that has such huge contrasts  Capturing the true value of ecosystem services natural capital?  Aligning this catchment action management plan with the aspirations of other partnerships, communities and organisations in the catchment  Physical modifications due to urbanisation, water storage and supply and flood protection  Impact of agricultural diffuse pollution and sedimentation into watercourses  HS2 and its associated development

Data and Evidence Catchment Characterisation Unfortunately no rivers in the TAM catchment area are classed at good status (as of 2015). 53% of Rivers are at moderate status, 36% at poor status and 11% at bad status. 2015 river data of Biological Quality elements (Fish, Inverts, Macrophytes & Phytobenthos) show that within the TAM catchment 4% are at good status, 28% are moderate, 50% are poor, and 18% are bad. 42% of the Tame river basin is urbanised, making it the most heavily urbanised river basin in the UK. The impact of the urban influence reaches beyond the immediate urban area due to the scale of the effect and the lack of natural processes to address the issues. Birmingham and the Black Country The Black Country lies at the head of the Tame, Anker and Mease Catchment, east of the main watershed of . From the Black Country the bulk of and Walsall form the major part, together with the south-eastern part of Wolverhampton, and the eastern strip of . Two major arms of the River Tame (the Wolverhampton and Oldbury Arms) drain this area, combining with the major tributaries of the Ford Brook and Sneyd Brook draining Walsall. Small streams and brooks forming the headwaters drain into the major rivers, though many are hidden away or culverted within the urban matrix. Many of the water bodies in this area are heavily modified; with rivers and streams running in artificially deepened or highly managed channels to ensure the efficient movement of water at times of heavy rain or flood.

The entire city area of Birmingham, the largest city outside of London with a population of over 1million, lies within the TAM catchment. The River Tame is the main river of the city, into which drains the major tributaries of the Rea and Cole. Many small streams and brooks forming the headwaters drain into the Tame, Rea and Cole though, as in the Black Country, many are hidden away or culverted and heavily modified. The is a good example, flowing in a deepened, straightened, and brick-lined channel from (to the south of the City Centre) as far as its confluence with the River Tame.

Land use is primarily urban with a dense matrix of residential and industrial uses interlaced with an array of transport and infrastructure corridors of national and regional importance. The whole of the Black Country is within the Birmingham and Black Country Nature Improvement Area. There is also an array of statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites - some of geological importance, or with protected and important species (such as water voles) - across this part of the catchment.

Diffuse urban run-off is a significant issue. Urban diffuse pollution resulting from the drainage off hard surface and mis-connections from domestic, industrial, and retail properties contribute to this. There is also a development pressure on the remaining “soft” surface is an issue.

The Black Country Trunk Sewer now takes most of the sewage from the Black Country to Minworth Water Treatment Works just east of Birmingham. This site is the main discharge to the River Tame, causing a considerable ‘tidal flow’ impact from abstractions and outflows which have a significant effect on the river. Small-scale abstractions of water take place through bore holes and have been found to cause temporary changes in water levels to some water bodies.

Overall, the water quality of the rivers, stream, and brooks in the Birmingham and Black Country area is assessed as moderate. However there are still point sources where heavy metal pollution, contaminated land, and the legacy of the Industrial Revolution are apparent and problematic.

Black Country canals within the catchment are assessed as having good water quality, except for Worcester & Birmingham : Junction to Tardebridge Top Lock, which is classed as Moderate overall.

As with many British river SSSIs, physical modification to the watercourse and the riparian zone has impacted the functionality of the . As a result, the River Blythe SSSI is currently in an 'unfavourable no change' condition due to physical habitat modification; namely weirs, dams and other flow obstructions, and invasive non-native species. The current unfavourable physical habitat condition is as a result of previous historic management. The river has been straightened in many places and a number of physical modifications have been made to the channel and riparian zone which prevent it from functioning naturally, restricting its ecological health and lowering the overall SSSI condition. These factors are preventing the river from achieving 'favourable condition' status as a SSSI. The EA and Natural England have a programme of river restoration to return SSSI designated rivers to a more natural condition and ecological health by restoring the river’s natural form and function. To achieve this ecological and geomorphological vision a river restoration plan has been developed for the Blythe. This outlines the ecological vision for the naturalisation of the SSSI. The river restoration plan sets out a means through which the recovery of the SSSI can be achieved in the long term.

North and West Warwickshire The character of the Tame changes as it leaves Birmingham, flowing through increasingly agricultural land. The River Tame runs from Water Orton through Kingsbury and on to Tamworth. It is joined by the River Cole - running from Birmingham through Coleshill - and the River Blythe SSSI - running from just the other side of Park. There is a strong influence of riverine vegetation with lines of willow pollards and poplars defining the course of the rivers. The floodplain widens where the three rivers meet near , with a large number of pools. These pools are mostly the result of former sand and gravel extraction which have filled with water and become nationally important wetland sites for birds and are key for other wildlife.

The area contains:  Five Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): , Middleton Pool, Kingsbury Wood, River Blythe and Kingsbury Brickworks.  Seven Local Nature Reserves (LNR): Dosthill Park, Hodge Lane, Kettlebrook, Tameside, Warwickshire Moor, Park Hall and Kingsbury Meadows  One proposed Local Nature Reserve: Cole End Park.  Four Local Wildlife Sites / Nature Reserves: Middleton Lakes managed by the RSPB, Ladywalk Nature Reserve managed by Bird Club, Lea Marston Lakes, and Whitacre Heath and Kingsbury Meadows managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.  Two designated country parks: Kingsbury Water Park and Reservoir

The industrial revolution saw great changes within the Tame Valley, with the expansion of the road network and improved turnpike roads, the building of the Canal and the Birmingham and Canal, and the opening of the Birmingham and Junction Railway. Today the M42 and the M6 toll slice across the landscape, together with nearby huge modern distribution parks (such as Hams Hall and Birch Coppice). This extensive transport network that crosses the Tame Valley has resulted in a fragmented landscape, with many of the wetland areas isolated from one another.

Previous channelling of the River Tame, creation of the settlement lakes at Lea Marston through which the River Tame flows, construction of engineered banks, and artificial concrete weirs have altered the natural flow of the river. This has led to the reduction in natural shingle banks, impacts on fish refuges, and in some cases causing erosion of the banks. Work by Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership since 2012 has started to address some of these issues.

In many places the river has become disconnected from its natural floodplain, with attendant change in water levels in the surrounding areas. The River Tame is also affected by water abstraction, altering levels of flow, as well as diffuse pollution from a variety of sources.

Although there has been a gradual recovery of otter population over the last ten years, the numbers are still very low. The lack of vegetation buffers of suitable width, and the increase in road traffic and subsequent road kills, mean that there is significant downward pressure on the recovery.

Invasive species such as North American mink and Indian balsam are also present and threaten to outcompete our native species.

East Staffordshire and West Leicestershire The catchment is mostly rural in character but there are scattered small to medium urban areas across the catchment. Throughout the catchment many of the rivers have been over-widened and over-deepened in the past, this has led to disconnection to the floodplain. Much of the area’s geology is dominated by Triassic Mercia Mudstone which gives rise to productive reddish clay soils. There are also outcrops of older Triassic sandstones which support well drained sandy soils, particularly in the Mease lowlands and a raised plateau in Leicestershire which is underlain by Carboniferous Coal Measures, which have been worked historically for coal. The River Mease catchment clay lowlands are characterised by extensive areas of arable cultivation with low, sparse hedges and few hedgerow trees The River Mease SSSI/SAC arises in North West Leicestershire and flows westwards through and Staffordshire for around 25 kilometres across a largely rural and agricultural landscape to its confluence with the Trent at . It represents a relatively unmodified lowland clay river with a diverse range of in-channel features, including riffles, pools, shoals, vegetated channel margins and bank side tree cover. Included in the designation are the lower reaches of the Gilwiskaw Brook which are steep and fast flowing with sparse aquatic vegetation. The river supports schedule 1 and 2 species including bullhead, spined loach, native crayfish, otters and ranunculus vegetation. Water quality is currently moderate due to point source and diffuse pollution from agriculture, roads, with the A42 and M42 bisecting the catchment, and other small discharges. There are 11 STW’s discharging into the Mease. The Mease is also failing to meet its conservation targets due to lack of river and riparian habitat and invasive non-native species including Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and American Signal Crayfish. There are significant land use pressures within the catchment which are predominately focussed around and Ashby-de-la Zouch. The lower reaches of the Tame catchment are mostly rural in character. Throughout the area many of the rivers have been deepened and straightened in the past to speed up flows, which has had the negative effect of disconnecting them from the floodplain. The River Tame itself is a wide and slow flowing river of poor to medium water quality, with a large proportion of its water made up of surface water from the conurbation upstream. Much of the floodplain adjacent to the river has been worked for gravel in many areas and is now a landscape rich in wetlands and other water bodies.

The Tame flows through Tamworth where it is joined by the . There is a large amount of public open space within the town immediately adjacent to both rivers and their confluence. After Tamworth the river continues to flow slowly past the rural landscapes of eastern Staffordshire, again interspersed by restored and current gravel pit workings. The wider catchment and floodplain of this length is agricultural, dominated by large fields with cereals and some livestock, with occasional small pockets of woodland.

The land to the west of Tamworth is the catchment area of the Black Bourne Brook and some smaller Tame tributaries which drain the northern fringes of , Burntwood, , adjacent villages, and the surrounding rural areas. The landscape is dominated by farmland with smaller field sizes, mixed hedgerows, and some arable land – providing a greater mix of land use types. The corridor of the Black Bourne Brook is particularly attractive with a good range of woodland and wetland habitats along some of its length. The M6 toll and the A38 both bisect this area.

To the east of Tamworth lies the catchment areas of the River Anker (flowing from ) and the (flowing from western Leicestershire). The River Sence rises in Coalville with a lightly urbanised upper catchment, then flows through an almost entirely rural area with a number of attractive villages where it is joined by a number of smaller tributaries. The farmland is varied with a mix of livestock and arable land. This distinctively rural area has a more undulating feel and includes the villages of Market Bosworth, Ibstock, Sheepy Magna, and Stoke Golding. The start of the Sence is classed as poor overall, it then improves to moderate from the Ibstock brook down to the confluence with the River Anker. Fish, Macrophytes & Phytobenthos and Phosphate are the failing elements.

The River Anker is a larger river starting close to the M69, and flows through the towns of Nuneaton and . The catchment area is again predominantly rural with a mix of pastoral and arable landscapes. Alvecote Pools SSSI (downstream of Nuneaton) is a well- known series of wetlands, again created from historical mineral extraction. The Anker is in poor to moderate ecological status and is important for species such as otter and water vole. The best chance for the recolonisation of the Lower Tame catchment by water voles is via the River Anker. However, despite its good ecological status overall, there is run off of silt and deposition, and associated diffuse rural pollution from arable fields.

Useful Catchment Data http://theriverstrust.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicGallery/index.html?appid=a747787473e048e5ae2949 d55767fdaa http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/RiverBasinDistrict/4 http://www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk/MagicMap.aspx http://www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/niaprojects

Catchment Project Plans Catchment Priorities See separate document Severn Trent Activity AMP6 Waste Projects Every 5 years Severn Trent must submit an asset management plan (AMP) to OFWAT outlining what work they would like to do over the next 5years, and how much they think it will cost. They work collaboratively with the EA to identify areas of river where they are contributing to the high levels of phosphorus. Targets to reduce these phosphorus levels over the next AMP period are then set. Severn Trent then engineer solutions to best achieve these target phosphorus levels i.e. discharges can be relocated, sites closed, treatment works upgraded etc. Unfortunately not all proposed projects are able to be planned in because each AMP cycle has a limited budget determined by OFWAT. To determine which projects get put forward they undergo cost benefit analysis testing, customer willingness to pay tests, and are weighted against other business plans.

TAM catchment area illustrating location of water and waste water treatment works. Red Stars – phosphate removal Pink Stars – Phosphate and Ammonia removal

Sewer Management Plan (SMP) Severn Trent form Sewage Management Plans (SMP) to understand the impact of our asset’s storm responses on the river reaches. They meet with the EA to identify river reaches to undertake assessments regarding intermittent discharges. For AMP6 (asset management plan) the EA has highlighted 32 river reaches as potential locations for further investigation. The aim of these investigations is to confirm the sewer impacts on water quality and to identify the potential root cause. The investigations are ongoing until April 2019, when the outcomes will be discussed with the EA to determine what further work, if any, is needed on these river reaches for the next AMP.

List of river reaches in the TAM catchment being investigated as part of the SMP in AMP6:

River Reach Water Body ID Pyford Brook Catchment (trib of Trent) GB104028047250 Gilwiskaw Brook from Source to River Mease GB104028046590 Wem Brook from Source to River Anker GB104028042430 River Anker from Sketchley Brook to Wem GB104028042450 Brook Sketchley Brook from Source to River Anker GB104028042470 River Blythe from Source to Cuttle Brook GB104028042400 R Tame (Oldbury Arm) from Source to GB104028042600 Catch Hockley Brook Catchment (trib of Rea) GB104028042640 Ford Brook from Source to River Tame GB104028046990 River Rea from Source to Griffins Brook GB104028042510 Griffins Brook from Source to R Rea GB104028042520

Catchment Management Severn Trent Water has designated the catchments Bourne and Blythe as a priority funding area for catchment management. Farmers within the boundaries mapped below may be eligible for STEPS (Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme) grants. The STEPS initiative aims to protect our watercourses and the wider environment from diffuse pollution. In order to apply you must farm a minimum of 3 hectares and displaying a minimum level of farming activity. The Bourne and Blythe catchment has been designated a safeguard zone for:  Metaldehyde,  Clopyralid   Chlorotoluron,  MCPA   Isoproturon,  Mecoprop   Chlorotoluron  Glyphosate 

The following measures are listed as a high priority items within this catchment to address pesticide losses:  Pesticide Sprayer Washdown/Handling Area (STEPS007)  Lined Biobeds (Either off set/Drive Over) (STEPS008)  Pesticide Biofilter (STEPS009)  Roofing for Pesticide Sprayer Wash-down Area (STEPS011)  Arable grass margin: 6+ metre buffer (STEPS016)

Sustainable Abstraction Investigations As part of the National Environment Program (NEP) we investigate the impact of our abstractions which are thought to be having a negative effect on the local water environment. At each site we monitor a variety of factors such as:  Water flow  Invertebrates  Water quality  Groundwater levels We use these results to write an impact assessment on whether our abstractions are having a negative impact on the ecology in the area. If it’s found from the investigations that we are having a negative impact the site then moves onto an options appraisal and cost benefit analysis, to go forward into an mitigating implementation phase in the next AMP cycle. In this catchment we are currently investigating the River Blythe (pumped offtake) from Patrick Bridge to River Tame:

We are currently in the implementation phase of RSA improvements on the Blythe & Bourne (SP 20657 90475); provision of fish passage in Blythe & Bourne at Whitacre abstractions.

Project Tracker See separate document – coming soon

Monitoring and Evaluation The Catchment Partnership will develop a systematic, evidence based approach to management of the catchment. It will be implemented via the sub catchments, at both project and landscape scheme level.

The Catchment Partnership will contribute to the national CaBA reports and evaluation annually. Individual projects will be measured by their specific outputs, and the delivery methods used will be recorded and evaluated.

Baseline data will be collected prior to any project activity and the source of the data used, whether from field monitoring or extrapolation from existing information, will be stated to validate its relevance.

Appropriate and relevant methods of monitoring and evaluation will be used on various aspects of projects, including community engagement in addition to ecological enhancements.

Each project will collect relevant evidence to quantify measures of success and record and share outcomes across the Catchment and nationally. Data from surveys and monitoring will be used to inform current projects and in planning future projects.

A catchment wide overview of condition will be taken annually by the partnership. Monitoring needs to be targeted and at a sufficient scale across the catchment / sub catchment areas to be effective.

The level of evaluation will be matched to the scale of project and impact and to resources and capacity available. A variety of mechanisms will be employed for monitoring as relevant to each project. Each of these will be standard, consistent methodology and will be repeatable to measure longer term impact.

Scientific, citizen science and volunteer monitoring will be used as appropriate to measure success of projects, particularly in engaging local people.

The engagement of people and organisations will be monitored per project regarding local involvement and understanding. Wider engagement will be measured via the partnership events, via responses to consultations on the Catchment Plan, and development of new projects.

 Ecological survey and evaluation methods may include sampling water quality, habitat condition and fauna sampling.  Walkover surveys by skilled volunteers and staff of partner organisations will be undertaken to evaluate catchment wide and sub-catchment condition and to identify issues and opportunities for solutions. Information gathered will inform development of next phase restoration projects.  Fixed-point photography and drone flyovers where applicable will be used to record the situation before project work and to demonstrate differences during and after each project.  Mapping results onto GIS layers will be undertaken per project whenever capacity allows. Capacity for this will be built into new project funding bids.  Use the extensive open-access resources available to support condition assessment across the catchment and planning future target areas. This will include Environment Agency hydrological, LiDAR and ecological data, and mapping from Natural England regarding active agri environment schemes.  Specialist contractors will be engaged per project where necessary to deliver high quality/extensive data generation to record detailed outcomes.  Each project will identify appropriate time frames for survey prior to project initiation and for monitoring and evaluation during and after project implementation. These should fit within overall catchment agreed monitoring measures  Share information amongst catchment partners on methodologies and hold events to inform and train people in survey and evaluation methods. Use CaBA resources and external input as relevant.

The Catchment Project tracker chart will be reviewed at least annually in summer to allow for inclusion of projects in forward budget proposals, and to update the list re completion of projects and development of new proposals. The Plan priorities will be reviewed in 2018, and the text of the plan will be reviewed in 2019.

Appendix Stakeholders Alison Millward Associates Alvecote Wood Angling Club, Nuneaton Angling Trust Anker Valley Canoe Club Atkins Global Black Country Geological Society Birmingham and Black Country Botanical Society Birmingham and Black Country Geodiversity Partnership Birmingham and the Black Country Bat Group Birmingham Anglers Association Birmingham City Council Birmingham City University Birmingham Natural History Society Birmingham Open Spaces Forum Birmingham Trees for Life Birmingham University Black Country Archaeology Black Country Consortium Black Environment Network Business in the Community Campaign for the Protection of Rural England Canal and Rivers Trust Castle Vale Community Environmental Trust Coleshill and District Civic Society Coleshill C. of E. Primary School Community and Landowners Association Consultancy for Environmental Economics and Policy Country Land and Business Association CSV Environment Dudley Council and Museum EcoRecord English Heritage Environment Agency EON ESI Ltd. Forestry Commission Freshwater Specialist, Ellen Pisolkar Friends of Babbs Mill Park Friends of Friends of Deers Leap Wood Friends of Kings Norton Nature Reserve

Friends of Selly Oak Park Friends of West Future Health and Social Care Association Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group Groundwork West Midlands Hanson Heantun Housing Association Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Holloway Foo Architects Homes and Community Agency Icarus Ideal for All Independent Living Centre Kings College London Kingsbury History Society Kingsbury School Kingsbury Water Park Land Care Associates Landscape Matters Leicestershire County Council Leicestershire Wildlife Trust Council Local History Society, Coleshill Local tenants group Nuneaton MADE Martineau Gardens National Farmers Union National Flood Forum National Trust Natural England North Arden Heritage Trail & Kingsbury WP North Warwickshire Borough Council North West Leicestershire District Council Packington Estate People and Wildlife Services (CIC) Revolve – North Warwickshire Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RPS Consultancy Royal Town Planning Institute Sandwell Council Sandwell Valley Field Naturalists Club Severn Trent Water Solihull Council Solihull Friends of the Earth Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Southshields Farm Staffordshire Biodiversity Partnership Staffordshire Ecological Record Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Sustain – Solihull Sustrans Tamworth District Council The Coleshill School The Conservation Volunteers The Waterways Trust Trent Rivers Trust University of Wolverhampton Ursus Consulting Walsall Borough Council Warley Woods Community Trust Wardell Armstrong Warwickshire County Council Water Orton Primary School Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action West Midlands Bird Club West Midlands Friends of the Earth West Midlands Regional Sustainability Forum Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Whitacre Heath SSSI volunteers Wolverhampton City Council The Woodland Trust WSP Group