Click on the screenshot to visit and sign the petition against cuts in Walsall Council’s Countryside Services department.

People concerned about cuts to Walsall Countryside Services, the Ranger Team and related issues – as outlined here previously – can now sign the petition over at Walsall Council’s website. It’s completely electronic, and is administered as part of Walsall’s Democratic Services. If the petition gets enough support, it will be raised at full council.

Please sign if you can. The Facebook group set up a week ago is going from strength to strength, and the human dynamo that is Linda Mason has also set up a blog for the campaign, as well as a contact email for those who don’t do Facebook.

You can visit the campaign on Facebook here, go and take a look at the blog here or send the group an email at savewalsallsgreenspaces@gmail.com.

If these cuts go ahead, who’s going to set up activities like this moth and bat education event? Image from Walsall Wildlife’s Flickr photostream.

Linda had the following to say on the group’s first blogpost:

What’s this all about then?

My name is Linda and one week ago I set up a Facebook Group called “Save Walsall’s Green Spaces and Countryside Services.” I did this for two reasons. Firstly as an individual who lives in the Borough of Walsall, I am passionate about the superb service that is offered by the teams employed at Walsall Council to nurture, maintain and develop the many green spaces, parks and nature reserves of the Borough and I am passionate about those places too. Secondly, the budget proposals currently being debated for the coming 2013 financial year could have a detrimental effect upon this jewel in Walsall’s crown.

The basics are that a £440K budget cut for the department is being proposed. this could mean the loss of two Countryside Rangers and four Senior Park Rangers. In the long term this could lead to the decay, decline and destruction of places that residents of Walsall hold dear and are justifiably proud of.

The Facebook group is somewhere that people can drop into and discover all the latest news about our campaign and can also post ideas and opinions regarding the potential loss of our precious green spaces. However, I have been made aware that not everyone wants to access Facebook and it does have it’s limitations. So this is a blog which I hope will compliment and grow in a different way to the group.

Please feel free to get in touch through the email address savewalsallsgreenspaces@gmail.com

Local anglers volunteered to clear the pond up at Leylands Farm, again, coordinated by Walsall’s Ranger team. Image from Walsall Wildlife’s Flickr photostream.