Lias Line NCN Route 41

National Cycle Network Route 41
Lias Line, Draycote
OS Grid ref: SP 443700
January 2011


Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation have initiated the Small Blue Butterfly Project, targeting one of the last remaining populations of the Red Listed Small Blue, at Southam Quarry.

With its proximity to this part of the Lias Line greenway on Route 41, both organisations are working in partnership to enhance the habitat and hopefully extend the range of the UK smallest butterfly. Such specific management will not only encourage other threatened butterfly species such as Grizzled and Dingy skippers, but also a wider variety of wildlife to the area.

Working with Sustrans Ecologist, Hannah Roberts and Mike Slater from Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation, we are designing a series of interpretation boards along the route.

To find out more about The Small Blue Butterfly Project and Sustrans National Cycle Network follow these links:

http://www.warwickshire-butterflies.org.uk/small-blue.asp

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/national-cycle-network/biodiversity-conservation

Whitacre Heath SSSI

Whitacre Heath SSSI
Between Coleshill and Tamworth
OS Grid ref: SP 209931
December 2010


Extensive wetland nature reserve situated in the flood plain of the River Tame. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its importance to breeding birds.


Working with Tim Haselden, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Wetland Living Landscape Officer, we are creating bird identification panels that will be displayed in the five reserve hides. Tim, a former employee at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, worked on the in-house design of the Lavender Hall Park interpretation board series - see previous post.


The panels at Whitacre Heath, will show a number of bird species most likely to be seen from a variety of habitats on the reserve, including; open water, woodland, reed and marsh.