Birmingham Open Spaces Forum network organisation that aims to together all the people in Birmingham with an interest in open spaces.

BOSF is for any group in Birmingham working to promote and develop an open space. This includes: friend's groups community groups residents' associations neighbourhood forums environmental projects and groups professionals working in open spaces.

BOSF members have been meeting for 2 years now and the forum holds 2 meetings a year. One in the Spring which includes the AGM and is for user groups. The 2nd meeting is held in the Autumn and is a large event attended by user groups, service providers, policy makers and politicians.

The BOSF Manifesto was adopted in March 2005;

The aim and purpose of the Forum is to secure and support the well-being and improvement of the Parks and Open Spaces in the City of Birmingham in all their aspects.

 1. It is a basic requirement that open spaces in Birmingham should be welcoming, sustainable, clean, safe and accessible to all.

 2. Opens spaces in Birmingham offer a range of resources for future generations and should be cared for as such.

 3. The inequality of open spaces across Birmingham must be addressed by reclaiming old and creating new open spaces.

 4. Effective open spaces in Birmingham are the result of consultation and partnership between all stakeholders in open spaces - community, voluntary, statutory and private organisations, users and staff.

 5. BOSF will provide a collective voice to ensure that Birmingham’s open spaces are developed with a view to local, future needs.

 6. BOSF will work to support and develop the voices of open space users to ensure that they are heard.

 7. Decisions about open spaces in Birmingham must take into account local, regional and national needs - but must be driven by local priorities.

 8. Friends groups need to work with service deliverers to innovate in management plans for and the maintenance of open spaces in Birmingham.

 9. Common sense maintenance delivered by on-site staff with a commitment to "their" open space will produce the best results.

 10.Birmingham needs to invest in the training and development of all those working for the well being of open spaces in Birmingham.

Case Study : Daisy Farm Park - Wildflower Meadow Success

Friends of Daisy Farm Park started, like many other groups, as a response to the poor state of the park. Maintenance seemed reduced to basic grass cutting and occasional litter picking. Vandalism had started to take a hold and worst of all joyriding and burnt-out cars were becoming an increasingly common sight.

 After an article in the local neighbourhood forum newsletter a Friends group was formed and two years down the line we produce a newsletter hold regular meetings and hands on activities.

 The key problems we’ve faced have been how to establish and gain recognition of a group and how to encourage local people to have a fresh look at a neglected facility and how they can play a part in reversing the decline. Progress has been frustratingly slow and to the casual observer the park may not seem wildly different to how it looked two years ago but good things have started to happen. We recently arranged a litter pick in which a group of around fifteen volunteers hauled out eight tons of rubbish from the park perimeter!! We’ve also managed to get a trip rail fitted around the car park reducing the possibility of joyriders.

 In an effort to improve the wildlife value of the park we’ve planted an area of willow coppice and started a programme of tree and shrub planting. Perhaps our most successful project so far has been the creation of a wildflower meadow. The area has proved to be a massive hit with park users and if you’re looking to create an instant wow factor and get local people interested it’s a great idea. We’ve lost count of the number of compliments we’ve received and yet planting was cheap and simplicity itself - remove turf, scatter seed and wait a few weeks!

 Adrian Holloway, Friends of Daisy Farm Park