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Thimblemill Brook is a mile-long stretch of land with a natural spring and brook between two roads running through a large housing estate in Smethwick.

It's currently over-grown with litter and domestic appliances. Despite this, it is a "SLINC" – a site of local interest for nature conservation, and has an abundance of wildlife with nesting moorhens, woodpeckers, kingfishers and herons.

Helen and Emily, CSV volunteers

Many local people want it cleaned up and have formed "The Friends of Thimblemill Brook".

Ö÷²¥´óÐã WM has joined forces with The Friends of Thimblemill Brook, Sandwell Council and Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve to make over the site.

At the beginning of April a SWAT team of volunteers started the make-over with a giant clean-up and litter-pick.

The SWAT team

Around 60 volunteers met at the Hurst Road Community Centre and after a short presentation about the project, they went out armed with hi-vis jackets, litter pickers and bags – and what a lot of rubbish they found. Bikes and bottles, shopping trolleys and tyres – you name it, it was found.

Peter Webb, Sec. Friends of Thimblemill Brook

Peter Webb from The Friends of Thimblemill Brook is passionate about the clean-up: "The group formed in winter 2006, but really got going about a year ago. We're quite lucky because we link onto several wards, so we have several councillors who have taken an interest."

However there are mixed feelings from residents. Peter explained: "They've seen the brook cleaned up before and then left to get a mess again. This won't happen this time. We want more residents to become Friends of Thimblemill Brook so we can move things forward."

Jo Miskin is the Community Liaison Office. As a keen conservationist he has an eye for what needs to be done.

"Thimblemill Brook has a general feel of being uncared for. I want to improve the view into it by thinning the edge of vegetation and making it more accessible. There are some good points and bad points about it.

Volunteers stretched out along the brook

"There's a lot of Japanese knot weed that suppresses everything, so that needs dealing with. Hopefully then native plants will start to re-grow. We'll also clear some of the bramble, though not all, and plant a wildflower meadow. There are native bluebells and we'd like to see more. It has real potential.

"It's a very old area and has changed enormously over the years. But at the moment it is a bit of a litter trap. As well a dealing with the vegetation, we'll be doing things like replacing the old fencing and hopefully painting the electricity sub stations.

"If it looks better and is well-kept maybe people will look after it a bit better."

Rising to the challenge

The Friends of Thimblemill Brook are sure that local people will rise to the challenge. One local resident, Phil Wilkins, was passing on his bike. He was very keen to find out what was happening and was keen to offer help.

Phil Wilkins, local resident

"When I was younger people used to dump burnt out cars in the brook. Even now, people stop in their cars and use it as a toilet! It's not very good."

Phil added: "I've lived hear all my life. I'm a handyman and would like to help. I'm sure my friends would too."

Santokh Singh is the neighbourhood manager for Smethwick. He's making sure every aspect of the project is considered: "We're trying to balance what the Friends group want, what residents want and the nature of the brook."

The volunteers drafted in for the first phase of the clean-up were from CSV Action, Options for Life, Mencap, some local beavers, cubs and scout groups, local residents, the Friends group and a few local councillors.

Local Children helped on the Litter Pick

The next step forward

Three stretches of the brook are included in the project. Two of the stretches were tackled in the first clean-up. The third stretch, on Stanhope Road, will be the next stretch to be litter-picked. Then the heavy duty work will begin when the washing machines and heavy items will be taken away, after which the conservation and make-over can continue.Ìý

Jenny Wilkes from Ö÷²¥´óÐã WM has been involved in organising: "This is just the start. We're hoping between now and June we're going to do a massive cleanup.Ìý The site has already got moorhens, kingfishers and the like, but its also got washing machines, bikes and television sets – obviously not a great environment.

"Now we've started moving some of the stuff out of the way,ÌýSandwell Valley who are on board, are going to cut back some of the vegetation and hopefully make it a nicer place. We'll be taking out railings, painting the electricity sub stations, hopefully improving the lighting, really make a great big difference.

Cayte Walker, Jenny Wilkes and young volunteers

"This all leads up to the 8th June when we're having a big celebration called the Springwatch Festival.ÌýIt will be at Thimblemill Recreation and Entertainment centre and there will be loads of different wildlife groups coming down.

"There'll be nest box making with the RSPB, pond dipping, the Wildlife Trust will be there, there'll be a funfair and lots for the kids to do. It will also be a big celebration of what Thimblemill Brook should be about. About nature and local people and it's going to be a great place to be."

The Big Spring Clean

The litter pick is part of the Sandwell Big Spring Clean which is organised by Sandwell Council. They provided many of the volunteers and equipment for the clean-up. To find out more visit Sandwell Council website.

Springwatch

The Ö÷²¥´óÐã WM Springwatch event in the West Midlands will be held on 8th June. It will be at Thimblemill Recreation and Entertainment Centre.Ìý Take a look back at last year's Springwatch event.