Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Jun 98/Jul 98

Tea Party in the Bull Ring

Saturday the 25th April saw Alice, The Mad Hatter, Dormouse and The White Rabbit join shoppers in Birmingham's Bull Ring for a 'Wild Tea Party'.

Alice and friends were there as part of FOEs National Wildlife Campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), other Wildlife Areas and to gain support for new legislation which would ensure proper protection for these areas.

Alice showed Birmingham shoppers the 'wonderland' of wonderful Brum wildlife, which surprisingly is found in small pockets all over their huge city. People were surprised to learn that Sutton Park and Edgbaston Pool, for example, are both SSSIs.

Upon meeting The Caterpillar, Alice, who was by now a bloke (see photo -Ed), learned of the many threats faced by wildlife such as intensive farming, fly tipping, peat extraction, etc. Reaching the Tea Party the Mad Hatter pointed out how local SSSIs were under threat because of "some stupid stupidness" which meant that roads (such as the BNRR) and Industrial developments (such as those proposed for Quinton Meadows) are prioritised over rare and important wildlife sites. Getting even madder, the Mad Hatter exclaimed that, "The Wildlife Law needs reforming. It looks more like a tea bag than a serious piece of legislation because it has so many holes in it!"

Finding this view shared by 22 other wildlife organisations the Dormouse sat up and began to take notice. When the Cheshire Cat appeared and declared that, "A new Wildlife Charter is what is needed" the Doormouse quickly agreed. As the Cat disappeared to talk to the Queen- who was, as it happened preparing a speech on that very subject- his grin lingered for a moment. When the White Rabbit called attention to the fact that time was running out a stampede of newly converted environmentalists made a Mad Rush to sign a petition which they made into a beautiful daisy chain of 355 signed 'flowers'.

Racing off to give the petition to their nearest MP the White Rabbit was heard to say, "I hope we're not too late... I hope..."

Jan Tomlinson

Many thanks to: Masquerade of Quinton (for providing free costumes), The Bull Ring, The Wildlife Trust and Peter Beck for information and encouragement, Macmillan Publishers for permission to reproduce drawings from Lewis Carrol's book. Special thanks to Geeta all your keen help and to all the FOE volunteers who took part- you know who you are! Extra special thanks to Dan, my dear housemate for all his support and efforts. -Jan

(For more details on FOE's National Wildlife Campaign, please contact Reception. A free Wildplaces! information pack is available from National FOE by telephoning 0171 490 1555 (copies at The Warehouse). See also http://www.foe.co.uk/wildplaces -Ed)