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Solihull tip – booking system in September

Solihull Council has announced plans for an online booking system for trips to Bickenhill Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) which will go live next month.

Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, Cllr Ken Hawkins, said: “We recognise that social distancing will be with us for a long time to come and that implementing this at our tip has contributed to quite lengthy queues for some time now.

“While we would still encourage residents to explore all other options – such as donations of useable items to charity shops or booking a hassle free bulky waste collection – we are working towards an online booking system for Solihull residents which should help considerably.

“We will have the new system in place in September and will give residents more information about how to book online once we have completed the necessary testing.”

For more information about household waste and recycling see – https://www.solihull.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling

Free Tree Scheme

Applications open for free tree scheme

Solihull residents and local groups are invited to apply for free trees as part of a scheme to promote the planting of traditional native trees in the borough. 

The Arden Free Tree scheme is run by Solihull Council in partnership with Birmingham Airport and is open to individuals or groups who would like to create hedgerows or small woodlands on their own land within Solihull. The deadline for applications is the end of August and successful applicants will receive their free trees in time for the planting season (December – February). 

Liz, who lives in Knowle, first applied for the scheme in 2017 and again in 2019.  She has received around 250 trees in total, creating hedgerows and a small copse. She said: “When I heard about the scheme I knew it was a great opportunity I couldn’t pass up on.  The first thing I recognised were the potential benefits it has for the local ecosystem in the area.

 “The application process was really straightforward and I was told in the autumn that I’d been successful. It wasn’t long before all the trees, planting stakes and tree guards were delivered. Adam from the Ecology team at the Council came to assess the site beforehand and offer advice on planting. We now have the makings of a beautiful hedgerow, including my favourite species the alder blackthorn which attracted lots of wildlife since it was planted. “

The aim of the popular scheme is to protect and enhance the rural character of Solihull, restoring features typical of the wider local landscape while also reducing carbon in the atmosphere.   Last year 4528 native trees across 15 projects were planted through the scheme.

Landowners in the borough who wish to plant new hedgerows and trees can apply by sending in a location map, sketched plan and list of species. A Solihull Council ecologist will then visit the site to discuss the plan in person. The scheme can cater for small scale planting right the way up to 1,000 trees.

For further details and to discuss the scheme please contact the Landscape Architecture, Ecology and Urban Design Team landscape@solihull.gov.uk or visit www.solihull.gov.uk

Please Keep an Eye out for Fly Tippers

This mess in the car park behind Mortons has to be removed by Dickens Heath Management Co, SMBC won’t do it. And that means those paying the service charge to DHMC will end up footing the bill. If anyone sees this happening again – please can we ask you to take a registration number (or photo if you can do so safely) and report it to DHMC.

Thank You

Reopening of Playground

Dickens Heath PC has not yet reopened the playground, but we are aware that it is being used again. We will therefore endeavour to officially reopen it tomorrow, Monday July 6th. No inspections have been done during lockdown, and so this is our first priority – to ensure that it is safe to use. The Parish Council has completed a Covid-19 risk assessment, and appropriate signage will be erected – some temporarily while permanent signs are ordered. Dickens Heath PC have taken a pragmatic approach – we know that residents and children are desperate to see it reopen. It will not be feasible for us to clean the equipment daily, provide cleansing facilities, nor to provide supervision. We are relying on all of our residents to be responsible, follow current health advice and that on the signs, and keep everyone safe. Thank you

Update on Reopening of Playground

The Government has announced that playgrounds can reopen from July 4th onwards – but this is only if they are ‘covid-19 safe’. The Parish Council is awaiting guidance from SMBC on a covid-19 risk assessment and appropriate signage. We cannot therefore confirm a date for its reopening. We are sorry if this is disappointing – but our insurance company has advised that ‘risk assessments may lead to the decision not to reopen play areas if we cannot ensure that we can provide safe play equipment’

Bring a bag for your rubbish when spending time outdoors.

Please bring a bagDownload

Are you planning on spending time outdoors? Play your part in helping to keep our environment clean and litter-free: bring a bag to take your rubbish home with you to throw away or recycle. Don’t leave rubbish next to a full bin. Litter ruins our great outdoors by harming our wildlife and polluting our waters. Remember, bins aren’t always available outdoors, especially in the countryside

Please click the above link to view the video.