Citylife in Rugeley and Cannock Chase March April 2021

Doxey Marshes by Colin Hayes
Launch of Rivers
Scheme in Stafford
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Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is excited to announce the launch
of a £2.5 million scheme in Stafford that will alleviate flooding
around rivers in the area, as well as encourage a range of
wildlife such as otters and lapwing. Improving public connections
to nature is also a large part of the scheme by upgrading access
to sites and creating more green spaces for families to enjoy.
The scheme has been given a boost thanks to a £150,000 donation
from Highways England which will fund an environmental feasibility
study that is already under way to develop, plan and cost a five-year
Ragged Robin by Victoria Bunter
plan for the exciting Stafford Brooks Project.
In partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Highways England,
Stafford Borough Council and the Environment Agency the project will
make vast improvements to habitats surrounding the Sow and Penk
Rivers. 25 sites will be identified which can be improved for
biodiversity, flood mitigation and water quality. Action will then be
taken to help join up some sites so habitats are more resilient and
wildlife less isolated.
The scheme that will restore and create new habitats across sites
including Doxey Marshes, Kingsmead Marsh and Radford Meadows
supports the launch of the Trusts recent appeal, 30 by 30 which aims
to have 30% of the county put aside for nature’s recovery by 2030.
Restored sites could become home to a variety of wildlife including
otter, wading birds such as lapwing and snipe and a range of amphibians
as well as them acting as a key contributor in mitigating the effects of
flooding.
Soroptimist’s Collect
Devices for Children
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Cannock Soroptimists have been getting involved in
collecting and distributing laptops and tablets to schools to
ensure that all children have access to a digital device so
that they can take part in online lessons and complete pieces of
work for school whilst at home.
The Coronovirus pandemic has highlighted the fact that there is a
'digital divide' - some families have plenty of access to a device and the
internet, others have none and this can widen the gap in terms of
education and so much more. Some families are trying to share a
mobile phone, or one other type of device: this is obviously nowhere
near ideal.
Over the last few months, the club carried out research, being
especially mindful that devices must be cleared of all data before they
are delivered to a school. Members were informed of an approved
programme that wipes data from devices, making them ready to be
used.
The first devices were taken to Bridgtown School and have already
gone out to children on loan, enabling more children and families to
Soroptimist June Bould presents laptop to Loren
Baker at Bridgtown School
access their education.
Further details about Cannock Soroptimists are available on the
club’s website: www.sigbi.org/cannock-and-district.
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