A NATURE trail in Balsall Common has been officially opened with a sprinkle of colour.
The Frog Lane Country Trail was formally opened to the public thanks to the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Shahin Ashraf and Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Professor Sir Nigel Thrift.
The new trail is a circular loop, approximately 2km (1.24 miles) in length, which connects onto existing public footpaths.
The opening was also celebrated by a group of Year 2 pupils from Balsall Common Primary School, who scattered Flora Britannica wildflower seeds on a prepared soil bed.
This wildflower mix was chosen as it is especially colourful and blooms all year round, complementing the nature trail and surrounding agricultural land.
New hedgerows have also been planted, made up of British native species – including hawthorn, holly, spindleberry, field maple and alder buckthorn, and new ponds have been created on the site.
Benches, information boards, and unique brass rubbing posts have been put into place to help create an interactive sensory walking trail, so visitors can enjoy the surroundings and find out more about the wildlife and green space around them.
The Mayor said: “It is vital that we continue to preserve and enhance our natural environment and it was lovely to celebrate all the hard work that’s gone into creating this wonderful new habitat.
“I really enjoyed helping the pupils from Balsall Common Primary School to scatter their wildflower seeds and I look forward to returning to Frog Lane to see how the Flora Britannica flowers grow. This beautiful nature trail is a fantastic addition to the community and I hope visitors enjoy it just as much as the new wildlife will.”
