Footsteps and Witton Lodge Community Association recently joined together at Witton Lakes Eco Hub at the centre of a green and blue space near Erdington to hold a successful afternoon exploring fostering community action in North Birmingham.
We were able to explore Witton Lakes Eco Hub and hear about how it offers local people an array of services and activities: providing support with health and wellbeing; and helping tackle wider issues like fuel and food poverty. You can see a video introducing the Eco Hub, and a map of its location, below. Footsteps’ John Nightingale said:
“The Witton Lakes Eco Hub is helping many residents of North Birmingham gain a love of Nature, reduce their fuel bills and do their bit to save our planet. It is wonderful to meet with other enthusiasts there. The challenge now is to share the centre and its work with the community as a whole.”
One of the key conclusions from the afternoon was the importance of having conversations, listening to people, and starting from their priorities and perspectives. Many people are concerned about the climate and biodiversity crisis and are interested if it helps with jobs, is on their terms and involves fairness. It is best if help comes from organisations that are highlighting these priorities, which may not always be environmental groups.
Witton Lakes Eco Hub
The Eco Hub is located off Faulkner’s Farm Drive, on the same site as The Orchard Tea Rooms (marked on Google Maps)
Speakers & Presentations
As well as hearing from Footsteps and Witton Lodge, a number of other speakers shared their experience and views and you can download their presentations below.
Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust’s Small Heath Eco Park
The afternoon ended with Afzal Hussain, Witton Lodge chief executive thanking everybody and saying he hoped we could all continue working together.