History of Aldersley fields
The fields at Aldersley were once part of Aldersley Farm. Back in the 1920s and 1930s there were fields and hedges running from Aldersley Farm to the Staffs-Worcester Canal.
However, when the new houses, the riding school and the sports facilities were built at Aldersley, hedges were removed and natural habitats disrupted.
Hedge restoration work
Wildside Activity Centre and the Friends of Smestow have been working together to deliver a hedge restoration project. The hedge planting started on November 13 with volunteers from Lloyds Bank, supported by Wildside Activity Centre. The dedicated group spent a day getting their hands dirty in the open air. Nearly 1,000 whips (young trees) donated by Lloyds were planted to form the new hedge line, creating a new path which follows the line of the old railway embankment which runs along fields adjacent to Aldersley Stadium.
The project, one of seven funded by The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will create new habitats for wildlife and protect the newly seeded wildflower meadow on the route.
Wider work at Smestow Valley
The hedge restoration work feeds into a broader project being funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which aims to explore, enhance, preserve and promote the heritage of Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve.
Key aims of the project include improving accessibility, restoring the natural heritage and increasing biodiversity of the nature reserve as well as revealing and protecting the distinctive heritage buildings and structures linked to the old railway line for future generations to enjoy.
We hope that more people will enjoy the health benefits of spending time outside and take the opportunity to get involved in the conservation of Wolverhampton’s largest nature reserve. Restoration of the hedges marks the start of these aims being fulfilled, and upcoming plans include recruiting a conservation officer and conducting ecological surveys.
Chris Munton-Evans from Wildside Activity Centre said: “It’s great to be part of this ambitious project working alongside the Friends of Smestow and City of Wolverhampton Council. We are delighted to have been able to work with volunteers from Lloyds group.”
Kevin Sankey from Lloyds Banking Group said: “The volunteers from our Pendeford office did a fantastic job on the day and really enjoyed plant trees as part of a new hedgerow to protect the wildflower meadow. We'll look forward to visiting the site again in the Spring to see how the trees we planted are doing."
Stay tuned for further updates on how Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve is being improved and developed!