Out and About with Birmingham’s Park Rangers

Wild at Heart – Healthy Parks Programme

Do you live in or near Aston, Newtown or Nechells ward and are you looking for a fun, rewarding way to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise, meet new people and give back to your community?

You can bring the whole family and take part in our free nature-inspired Park Fun! activities – suitable for all ages!

Or get some exercise by joining a Community Clean Up – Green Up activity – litter picks, planting for pollinators, or creating wildlife-friendly areas, your time makes a difference to you and your environment.

Or join a Wild Walks with time to talk and spot wildlife and other points of interest as you connect with nature and exercise together around the park.

No experience needed – just enthusiasm! Wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Check for cancellation in bad weather. Come along, get stuck in, and help make our parks better for both people and wildlife.

Email Lickey.hub@birmingham.gov.uk for more information.

Burbury Park Family Activities Blog
See what happens when people and nature connect: https://naturallybirmingham.org/2026/04/09/burbury-park-wild-at-heart/

April Dates For Your Diary

Whether you are looking for children’s activities, guided walks or getting involved caring for your local park there is plenty going on this spring:

Please note: children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Thursday 9th April 12.30- 2.30  
Bloomsbury Park – Nechells B7 4NY. 
Get out and about and join the rangers for a free Springtime activity for children and families .
Meet by the playground.

Wed 22nd April : 12.00 -1.30 
Georges Park – Lozells B19 1PP .
Help the rangers to make a habitat pile for the wildlife of Georges park.
Meet by the playground at 12.00.

Friday 24th April 12.00 – 1pm
Salford Park – Nechells B6 7TG:  
The City Nature Challenge: Join the rangers to record how many different species of plants, trees and creatures of all kinds we can spot in the park in 1 hour as part of ‘The City Nature Challenge’
This is a world wide Bioblitz event to see which city can record the most wildlife! You can have a go yourself by downloading the iNaturalist app A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist on to your phone – take photos of what you see then share them on the app. See the Website: www.citynaturechallenge.org.   
You would be surprised at how WILD Brum really is!!

Friday 24th April 1.30 – 2.30
Burbury Park – Newtown B19 2UP.
The City Nature Challenge: Join the rangers to record how many different species of plants, trees and creatures of all kinds we can spot in the park in 1 hour as part of ‘The City Nature Challenge’ = a world wide Bioblitz event to see which city can record the most wildlife! You can have a go yourself by downloading the iNaturalist app A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist on to your phone – take photos of what you see then share them on the app.
See the Website: www.citynaturechallenge.org.   
You would be surprised at how WILD Brum really is!!

Monday 27th April 11am
Aston Park – Aston B6 6JD
Meet in front of the Hall.
The City Nature Challenge: Join the rangers to record how many different species of plants, trees and creatures of all kinds we can spot in the park in 1 hour as part of ‘The City Nature Challenge’ = a world wide Bioblitz event to see which city can record the most wildlife! You can have a go yourself by downloading the iNaturalist app A Community for Naturalists · iNaturalist on to your phone – take photos of what you see then share them on the app.
See the Website: www.citynaturechallenge.org.   
You would be surprised at how WILD Brum really is!!

Birmingham Ranger Service – Wild at Heart Programme

For many years Birmingham’s Park Ranger Service has cared for Birmingham’s countryside and helped to link people to nature through a programme of events, activities and support for community groups across the city.

As part of the ongoing review of Council services, in order to deliver savings in the region of £300m overall across the next two years, the operation and focus of every service with the Council has been under review, and the Ranger Service is no exception to this process. As such changes to how the Ranger Service will operate are now being put into place in order to meet the available budget. In light of the Councils budget pressures, the decision has been taken to reduce the number of Ranger Service personnel in total by removing any vacant posts. They will continue to to carry out Health and Safety inspections across the city’s parks and open spaces in accordance with statutory requirements.

The rest of their time will focus on new, targeted delivery of activities in the wards most in need of action to level up environmental justice scores as per our City of Nature 25 year plan, agreed by BCC Cabinet in February 2022. This includes 46 parks within Bordesley & Highgate, Balsall Heath West, Nechells, Gravelly Hill, Pype Hayes and Castle Vale.

The “Wild at Heart” programme is being delivered as part of a significant, time limited funding contribution from Public Health with defined targets for delivery set out in a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) developed between Public Health and the Ranger Service. Activities being delivered by the Rangers are those that support or deliver nature based interventions to improve health outcomes such as physical activity levels and wellbeing.

In practice what these changes will mean is, the level of support given previously
from the Ranger Service to ‘Friends Of’ groups and community groups in the other parts of the city will be reduced with the reduced workforce and re-focussing of priorities for the next two years whilst the Council returns to a more sustainable financial position.

That said, the Ranger Service will continue to work with the City of Nature Alliance of organisations and other partners to help inform and coordinate the delivery of community
activities and aim to increase participation, volunteering, and appreciation of our
green spaces across the city. The wider Parks team will of course be there to provide advice and support so that existing Friends Groups can continue to make their contributions to their local sites as much as possible. Hopefully in the future they will be able to build on what they have and increase support across the whole city once more.

The Rangers are still based at three sites across the city that you can visits to enjoy Birmingham’s countryside and speak to a Ranger to get advice about your local green space: Sutton Park , Lickey Hills Country Park and Sheldon Country Park

Connecting with Nature

There are also lots of ways you can enjoy connecting to nature and enjoying Birmingham’s parks and open spaces, here are a few ideas.

Making Mud Animals

In our first video Holly who was based at the Lickey Hills shows you how to make mud animals.

Meeting An Oak Tree

In our second video Ranger Service Manager Steve who is based at the Lickey Hills shows you how to make the most of meeting a tree.

Bug Hunting

In our third video which is from Ex-Ranger Debbie who works from home as Community Facilitator for the FPA project and loves her garden. She shows you how to make the most of a sunny spring day bug hunting in your garden or local park

Nest Box Making

In our fourth video which is from Ex-Ranger Simon who now works as an ecologist for Birmingham City Council. He shows you how to make a selection of nest boxes for your garden and think about what birds you may see or hear in your local park. For more information about making nest boxes and where to put them visit: https://www.nestboxweek.com/