Castle Bromwich (Routes I and O) will benefit greatly from the Wildlife Ways project. Over 300,000 bulbs  will be planted while 8,000 square metres of wildflower seeding will take place. New trees include hornbeam and scots pine.

They will help wildlife biodiversity and in particular pollinating insects such as bees, moths and butterflies which have been in serious decline over many years.

Work has finished on Route O, which includes signposting from the junction of Water Orton Road and Marlborough Road to where it meets with West Avenue, then along West Avenue to Hurst Lane North. From Hurst Lane North the footway has been upgraded along Green Lane up to the parallel crossing opposite St. Clements Church. An additional parallel crossing point is being installed on Hurst Lane North.

In March 2019 about 1,000 square metres of wildflower turf was planted along Hall Road’s verges, which came into bloom during the summer. These areas were then cut back in order to help them flower again this year. See how they looked in 2019 in the film below (courtesy of Severn Trent).

On Route I, along Hall Road, between Bradford Road and Chester Road, a new zebra crossing has been installed. Two street lamps and a bus shelter on Hall Road have been relocated, two new cycle way sections at the junction with Bradford Road added, cycle lanes put in along Hall Road between Chester Road and Bradford Road, and changes made to road markings.

There is a new signal head for cyclists exiting the park by Hall Road/Bradford Road. This provides guidance and safety for cyclists at a section where they may have different needs from other road users.

On Water Orton Road (Route 1 on the ‘All Routes’ map, downloadable below) we have planted wildflower seed areas, bulbs that include crocus and snowdrop and primroses specially grown for this project. In autumn 2020 wildflower seeding was added to the ‘triangle’ outside the Farthings pub. We also laid out wildflower turf and planted bulbs on Green Lane, Windward Way, Whateley Crescent and Bradford Road.Along Chester Road we carried out wildflower seeding on several of the verges and central reservations. In addition trees and wildflower turf was laid in select locations.

These  works form part of a borough-wide project, designed to make Solihull greener. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the project will open up and improve existing routes, so allowing wildlife to flourish and helping people to walk and cycle across the borough.