As part of our mission to support and celebrate Birmingham’s parks & open spaces volunteer groups, we’re sharing stories of projects that have made a real difference to local communities. This case study highlights the Friends of Balaam’s Wood, who turned a long-held idea into reality thanks to the help of a University student placement.

For over five years the Friends of Balaam’s Wood dreamed of creating a Tree Trail in their local woodland, a way for visitors to discover more about the trees that make the space so special. But as a small volunteer group, time and capacity were always in short supply, and the project kept getting pushed to the back burner.

Everything changed after the BOSF Conference in September 2024 – during the event, Dr. Lesley Batty from the University of Birmingham’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences encouraged our member Friends groups to think about offering a student placement. The Friends of Balaam’s Wood were inspired by this, and decided to put their Tree Trail forward as a placement project. To their delight Dr. Lesley Batty soon confirmed that a student, Beatrice Cross, was interested in working with them. After meeting to discuss the project, Beatrice’s placement began in January 2025.

The first few weeks were spent getting to know each other, refining the project idea and agreeing on the best approach. Beatrice joined the volunteer group every Monday, and her energy quickly helped to move things forward. Together they settled on a low-tech, eco-friendly solution: wooden discs fixed to selected trees, each engraved with a QR code linking to information on the group’s website. Beatrice played a major role in creating these new website pages, joined the group’s regular “woodland workout” sessions to decide which trees to feature, and even helped cut the wooden discs herself. By the end of her placement almost all of the markers were in place – allowing her to see the results of her hard work in action.

 

Local residents were invited to share their thoughts on the trail, adding stories and local knowledge to the project. One resident shared his memories of the woodland, and revealed he was the original person who suggested the idea years ago – bringing the project full circle. The group also had help from Aimee, another placement student, who carried out water testing on the River Rea during the same period. Before the trail visitors often walked through the woodland without knowing much about its history or the trees themselves. Now each marker invites curiosity and encourages people to stop, scan a code, and learn more. It has turned a casual stroll into an interactive experience, deepening connections between the community and the woodland.

When asked if they’d recommend student placements to other Friends groups, Penny from the Friends of Balaam’s Wood was clear: “A wholehearted yes, for the following reasons: you get a set amount of time which gives a project impetus, you also get a fresh viewpoint, and lastly it’s really nice to think in some small way you’ve helped someone at the beginning of their career.”

Beatrice also reflected warmly on her experience: “Working with Penny and the volunteers was fantastic, they are all lovely people and it was a pleasure working with them. My highlights would be having tea and cake after the Monday sessions, learning how to use a saw, and seeing the tree trail come together over the last weeks of the placement.” She added that the experience strengthened her desire to work in conservation, helped her develop new woodland management skills, and improved her Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) abilities.

For the Friends of Balaam’s Wood, the initial worries about workload, paperwork, or providing student support soon faded. They found the process straightforward and rewarding – and encourage other BOSF member groups to consider it.

Top tips:

• A placement gives your project structure and momentum.
• A fresh perspective can spark new ideas.
• It’s a chance to pass on knowledge while supporting someone starting their career.

Thanks to Beatrice’s contribution the Friends finally have a Tree Trail, and plans are already in place to expand it. The project has brought fresh energy, stronger community connections, and a new way for people to explore and learn about the woodland!

If your group has a long-discussed idea still waiting to happen, consider inviting a student placement to get involved. It’s a win-win, building your group’s capacity while helping to nurture the next generation of conservationists. Get in contact with us via [email protected] and we can help get the process started

Posted on 8th August 2025