Chris Millward

Join us tomorrow, Sunday 10th August, for Day 2 of our 20th Anniversary Baton Journey!

After an amazing Day 1 exploring Northfield, Edgbaston, and Ladywood with @chris4patches.bsky.social (@brumbiosphere.bsky.social) carrying our Celebration Baton, we’re excited to keep the adventure going!

Don’t you just love good news!

Linnet have had a record-breaking breeding season @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social with a loose colony and 2 other sites occupied. 23+ were there today

Also Yellow Wagtail successfully raised 2 young, the first confirmed breeding on the farms this century 😎

📢 Last call!

We are looking for our new Campaigns Coordinator to join our small staff team at The Warehouse - Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

⭐Applications close on Monday 11 August at 9AM.

For more info and to apply: www.birminghamfoe.org.uk/campaigns-coordinator

#Jobs #Activism #BirminghamUK

….and here is the schedule for the baton’s journey this Sunday, 10th August

Here’s why the @bosfonline.bsky.social 20th Anniversary Celebration Baton, is making its way around Birmingham

This is a huge voluntary movement that is now contributing £1.3million plus a range of other benefits to our great city every year!

You can find the schedule for this Sunday below 👇

If you’re looking to get outdoors, meet new people, and make a real difference in your local community - why not lend a hand with one of the amazing volunteer groups across the city?

Head to the map page on our website to find your local group & get involved this summer bosf.org.uk/members/
💚

Save the date: 24th August
We’ll be rounding off the baton’s journey with a big celebration at Cotteridge Park - and everyone’s welcome!
Join us as we explore, celebrate, and shine a light on the amazing work happening across Birmingham’s parks and open spaces.

3:45-4:15pm Harborne Hill Allotments
4:45-5:15pm Edgbaston Reservoir
5:45-6:15pm Sheepcote Street Nature Group
Each stop celebrates the “unsung heroes” behind Birmingham’s green spaces -local volunteers who connect communities through nature, care, and commitment! 💚

The journey begins this Sunday, 3rd August 2025!
Day 1 Walk Schedule:
8:00-8:15am Cotteridge Park
9:30-9:45am Deelands Community Garden
10:00-10:30am Balaam’s Wood
11:15-11:45am Ley Hill Park
12:15-12:45pm Senneleys Park
1:30-2:00pm Pitts Wood
2:45-3:15pm Queens Park

Every Sunday this August, @chris4patches.bsky.social (Team4Nature) will carry the BOSF Celebration Baton (beautifully handmade by retired Park Manager - Lee Southall), as he walks across the city connecting with the incredible volunteer groups who help to care for our city’s parks & open spaces.

Brum: UK’s first ‘Nature City’ More info about "Brum: UK’s first ‘Nature City’" from West Midlands News

How does Brum unlock its full potential through nature?

My piece for West Midlands News after Birmingham is crowned as the UK’s first Nature City:
westmidlands.news/brum-uks-fir...

This is more than a job, it’s an opportunity.

Could you be our next Campaigns Coordinator?

Full information is on our website: www.birminghamfoe.org.uk/campaigns-coordinator

The deadline is 9am Monday 11th August.

We look forward to reading your application!

#Birmingham #Charity #Jobs

Chuffed to see that Small Teasel (Dipsacus pilosus) has reappeared in a local park following an absence of almost a decade. Might well be the only plant in the whole city! #urbanflora

West Midlands Wildlife Recording League 2025 Which town or city in the West Midlands Region (Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire & West Midlands County) will record the most wildlife in 2025?

You can help your area climb the league by submitting wildlife sightings using the free iNaturalist app/website!

Each month we will highlight the town or city that makes the biggest gains!

uk.inaturalist.org/projects/wes...

Exciting News!

We have now expanded our iNaturalist Wildlife Recording League to include some other towns and cities in the West Midlands region!

Which place will record the most wild species by the end of 2025? It's currently very tight at the top!

From nature enthusiasts and conservationists such as @chris4patches.bsky.social, to tree-planters, long-established Friends groups, litter-pickers and food growers… 💚 The power of community is at the heart of it all.

The evening of memories, part of the @bosfonline.bsky.social 20th Anniversary celebrations was without doubt the highlight of the year so far for me.

I’m so excited that this volunteer movement continues to strengthen and I’m proud to serve it with all my heart 🙏✨

bsky.app/profile/bosf...

Join us for free family fun this summer at Calthorpe Park, Balsall Heath, #Birmingham, (B12 9LF)! 🐞🌳🎨
Bug hunts, crafts, trails & more - all free!
Email rebecca@bosf.org.uk to find out more and to register!

Today! Looking forward to this walk lead by @chris4patches.bsky.social@Team4Nature @bosfonline.bsky.social

Fascinating records @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social this week include:
Banded Burdock Fly
(Terrellia tussilaginis)
Wasp Hoverfly - Verrall’s Spearhorn
(Chrysotoxum verralli)
White-barred Tortrix
(Olindia schumacherana)

Just look at the eyes & leg barbs on Goldenrod Crab Spider to aid hunting! 😎

#Birmingham Tree People are hiring an Operations & Engagement Coordinator to join their team! This role supports all aspects of the charity’s work - from admin and content creation to community engagement and tree planting!

Find out more & apply here: birminghamtreepeople...

771 butterflies of 15 species were on the @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social transects today
249 Ringlet
242 Meadow Brown
82 Small Skipper
63 G-V White
51 Large White
26 Small White
20 Marbled White
16 Large Skipper
8 Comma
4 Gatekeeper
3 S Tortoiseshell
3 Peacock
2 Red Admiral
Brimstone
S Wood 😎

It was fantastic to submit my 10,000th wildlife record on @inaturalist.bsky.social this week

Almost half the species found were within 3 miles of Birmingham Cathedral

My 10,000th record came at the site where George Dawson developed the Civic Gospel that transformed Brum! #CityofNature

It was great to record three new flies @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social this weekend, a Lance Fly of the Genus Lonchaea and two Soldier Flies:
Yellow-legged Black (Pachygaster leachii) and
Common Orange Leigionnaire (Beria vallata

Marbled White & Six-spot Burnet continue to extend there range @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social They were recorded at new sites today and can be enjoyed along Manor Way for the first time in 10+ years

Bumble Bee Hoverfly remains local to Bibbey’s Hollow

Also 1st White-backed Tortrix recorded today

Hi Matt. The totals were running at c75% of 2023. Today’s was pretty much the same as 2023 but I’m not getting carried away because this could be due to early emergence of grassland species. Greater analysis (esp species specific) needed as year unfolds. WL Damselfly now recorded in 3 areas 😎👌

377 butterflies @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social transects today
160 Meadow Brown
120 Ringlet
35 Large Skipper
17 Small Tortoiseshell
13 Large White
8 Small Skipper
8 Comma
4 Green-veined White
4 Small White
4 Speckled Wood
2 Painted Lady
Marbled White
Red Admiral
W-L Damselfly range is expanding 😎

75 butterflies were along the transects @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social on Wednesday:
29 Meadow Brown
25 Large Skipper
11 Small Tortoiseshell
4 Speckled Wood
2 Large White
2 Green-veined White
Small White
Ringlet: 16th species of year

So far 2025 totals are c75% of 2023 after crash last year

Stevelilart Portrait Artist | Pencil portrait artist Stevelilart is a very collectable pencil portrait artist, with pieces in private collections worldwide. Official Talking Pictures TV Artist

Out & about this weekend with 2 events & artwork for all budgets:
Saturday: #Cirencester Market
Sunday: #Leamington Arts, Eats & Treats Festival in Victoria Park 11 -5.
My webstore is always open www.stevelilart.co.uk

🌿Our Network & Nature event is this coming Thursday @bosfonline.bsky.social! Post social there is a very special walk with @chris4patches.bsky.social 🌿