The 5th Mobile Catering Services for Parks tender is now live on In-Tend. Deadline: 30 Sept 2025 (midday). Details & docs (ref: PQ0614): www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/05232... Covers pitches across Birmingham’s parks. Contracts run for 4 years. @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social

The UK Spotted Flycatcher population has declined by 93% in my lifetime! Friends of Stechford Hall Park enjoyed watching 2 during my guided walk today Brum has a HUGE story to tell about its nature & how it improves the lives of its people! Volunteers are the storytellers! @bosfonline.bsky.social

2 Spotted Flycatchers Stechford Hall Park spotted at noon today and still present with group of warblers on central area near playground #WestMidsBirds

I warmly invite you to join me and Friends of Stechford Hall Park tomorrow to enter the fascinating world of Brum’s birds & butterflies: 11am via Stechford Road B34 6AB This is their 1st nature event so will also be cause for a great celebration of Brum community development @bosfonline.bsky.social

Lovely to see & hear from so many people working with nature locally at @chris4patches.bsky.social's walking workshop today. Including @naomifisher.bsky.social & folks from @wittonlakes.bsky.social @bosfonline.bsky.social. The sunshine was great & slightly unexpected.

News just in! @keepbritaintidy.bsky.social and the Green Flag Award are working with the @universityofleeds.bsky.social and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to support a new campaign: #SaferParks - #StandUpAgainstStreetHarassment

Great to be involved in the launch of the Life Sciences Festival in #Birmingham yesterday. Thanks to @chris4patches.bsky.social (@brumbiosphere.bsky.social) for the invite and the chance to host a stall - it was a brilliant opportunity to connect with organisations from across the West Midlands.

A huge thank you to Carl Chinn, Brummie Historian & Local Legend, for his brilliant @birminghamlive.bsky.social article on the history of the city’s open spaces - and for highlighting BOSF & our network of volunteers. He recently celebrated our 20th Anniversary with us & @chris4patches.bsky.social 💚

We're co-hosting a screening of ACTionism with the Plastic Free Gathering, Friday 19th Sept 7-9pm at @inthewarehouse.bsky.social The film explores bringing people together for collective action. There'll be a Q&A with with the filmmaker and a chance to socialise. actionnetwork.org/events/film-...

Have you heard about the Plastic Free Gathering? Sat 20th September 10am - 6pm at Crowne Plaza Hotel here in Birmingham, and on zoom. There's talks from @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social @partykitnetwork.bsky.social @reuniverse.co @zerowastescotland.bsky.social and more. www.theplasticfreegathering.co.uk

It was an absolute pleasure to lead a guided bird & butterfly walk with the growing number of Friends of Queens Park in Brum Fantastic to record 21 bird species incl Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, House Martin, Sparrowhawk & Treecreeper and 5 butterfly species #BrumBiosphere @bosfonline.bsky.social

I warmly invite you to join me on Friday 19th September 2025 for my walking workshop, “Life with Nature” Together we will explore how our region and its people can thrive by bringing nature into our daily lives and boardrooms Register here: wmlifesciencesweek.co.uk/event/life-w... #LSW25

Today WERG are busy with @BrumRiverChamps activities & a touch of litterpicking @bosfonline.bsky.social 🙂

After carrying the @bosfonline.bsky.social 20th Anniversary Celebration Baton over 150,000 steps to Brum’s “unsung superheroes”, what better way to recharge & reflect than to survey @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social It was fantastic to see record numbers of Small Copper & Common Blue plus 106 Linnet!

Celebrating 20 years of BOSF! Ward End Residents' Group have a mention too! #BOSFbatoncelebrations @bosfonline.bsky.social @chris4patches.bsky.social WERG on the third leg last Sunday.... 📰🗞️West Midlands News Piece 👇 20 years of Brum Open Space Forum westmidlands.news/20-years-of-...

Do you have a broken electrical or battery-powered household item? Give it a second chance at our Repair Workshop with Recognition Circular, sponsored by @veoliauk.bsky.social Friday 29 August, 10am-2pm - Expert volunteers - Cut waste - Save money Book your slot: recognition-circular...

BOSF ambassador @chris4patches.bsky.social (@brumbiosphere.bsky.social) is back on the move this Sunday 17 Aug, carrying our 20th Anniversary Baton through Hodge Hill to Yardley, visiting parks & connecting with the amazing volunteers, "the unsung heroes" who care for #Birmingham’s green spaces! 💚

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

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.

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

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 [email protected]#Birmingham,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

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

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 🌿

“Brum’s economy is ultimately built by the productivity of its people. And the productivity of Brummies is determined heavily by their state of mind,” My piece for West Midlands News: westmidlands.news/nature-happi... @naturallybham.bsky.social @bosfonline.bsky.social @bbcwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Today kicks off #VolunteerCelebrationWeek (2-8 June)! We are sending a huge thank you to all the volunteers caring for #Birmingham’s parks and open spaces. Whether planting, litter-picking, or connecting communities - you make a real difference! 💚 #VolunteerWeek

It was great to record 51 butterflies of 10 species @bibbeyswildfarms.bsky.social yesterday: 32 Large Skipper (15th species of year) 5 Small Tortoiseshell 5 Speckled Wood 2 Orange Tip 2 Large White Peacock Holly Blue Red Admiral Small White Meadow Brown It was exciting to find a Rhino! 😎

Say hello to one of our newest member groups - Friends of Primrose Park Residents Association (FOPPRA) in King’s Norton! They’ve recently held their first community litter pick, joined by Cllr Rob Grant and Will from @cleanupuk.bsky.social, a team of 12 collected over 10 bags of litter! 💚

I just love urban safaris! Lancaster Circus Queensway, a palisade fence along Moseley Street & Charles Henry Street and the grounds around, Bransford Tower, Vaughton Street yielded 113 wildlife species yesterday and this is BEFORE Brum becomes a biophilic future city! @naturallybham.bsky.social