Lifestyle Opinion

Environment Peter Shirley: The funding roundabout in West Midlands parks When reduced budgets are imposed it is natural for councils to look first at cutting such discretionary activities, in order to protect those they are legally required to do.

Environment Improvements to the international protection for wildlife In distant Quito in Ecuador governments, including ours through the EU, have been meeting to improve international protection for wildlife.

Environment Clipping the RSPB's Wings The Sawley Hall shoot in Yorkshire claims that the RSPB does not apply enough of its substantial income to owning and managing nature reserves

Environment The 40,000 different insects in Britain help support all other life on earth The 40,000 different insects and their close relatives in Britain play a crucial role in supporting all other life on earth, including us

Environment Peter Shirley: Politicians obsessed with economy don't think about our wildlife We need healthy ecosystems and thriving populations of animals, insects and birds to provide food, clean air and water and an amenable climate.

Environment Peter Shirley: Britain's butterflies count Our butterflies seem to be recovering following the very wet summer of 2012, but long-term fortunes are still not good

Environment Peter Shirley: Ministers' parks and open spaces tax proposal Ministers have suggested that people living near parks, and whose houses increase in value because of this, should pay extra tax to contribute to the upkeep of the parks.

Lifestyle Opinion Richard Saxton on Folding Hill's "Orchard Block" Pinot Noir 2010 Richard Saxton sampleds Folding Hill's "Orchard Block" Pinot Noir 2010.

Environment Peter Shirley looks into urban trees in Birmingham and the Black Country Birmingham and the Black Country are famous for their street trees.

Environment Owen Paterson's view of the environmental movement Former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson described parts of the environmental movement as 'the green blob'.

Environment Mixed progress for Midlands nature Progress and local successes here and there mask a continuing and worrying decline in the variety and abundance of plants, animals and birds.

Environment Precaution or Profit For a host of reasons both wild bees and domesticated honey bees continue to decline, both here and in other parts of the world.

Environment Still much to learn about the common Blackbird The Blackbird is very much a European species, although there are populations in parts of China and elsewhere in Asia.

Environment Natural England are ruffling feathers Recently it seems that the Government's nature conservation agency, Natural England, are doing the opposite of helping our beleaguered species.

Environment How the EU Elections can alter nature conservation Without European laws and regulations, weak and badly implemented as some of these are, our wildlife would be even worse off than it is.

Black Country Black Country insect miners remind us of their presence Mining bees in particular remind us of their presence throughout the spring months.

Environment The Nature of Birmingham There is still an assumption that nature is something found only in the countryside, that it is surprising to find genuine wildlife in a city.

Environment Where have all the flowers gone?Although woodland flowers currently dominate the scene later the focus is on grasslands, and there lie many problems.

Black Country Wonderful or whimsical? A Black Country garden city The Black Country's innovative garden city proposal has been entered for a £250k prize for new garden city designs put up by the Wolfson Foundation.

Lifestyle Opinion GALLERY: Monochrome fashion - it's all there in black and white Cool, clean and classic, the fashion pack love monochrome. Emma Johnson picks out easy pieces

Environment Enjoy a free concert with International Dawn Chorus Day Suddenly blossoms are filling our waysides, parks and gardens instead of incessant rain and floods.

Sandwell Taming the Tame The much-maligned Environment Agency, local authorities, civil engineers and conservation bodies have had enormous success in alleviating flooding in many parts of the country.

Black Country Ironic approach to managing open spaces A bench on a stretch of disused canal in the Black Country has been removed, apparently because people have been using it too much!

Environment Off with Offsetting Would you like to drive for up to an hour to enjoy a stroll in your 'local' green space or wildlife site?

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Regional Affairs Birmingham Civic Society appoints youngest ever chairman Amelia Ladbrook will take over the role later this year to champion campaign group's heritage work in the city

Birmingham Town Hall The Birmingham choir that's not very vocal about its many triumphs!Founded in the 1880s, Birmingham Choral Union is still going strong. Christopher Morley finds them in fine voices ahead a concert at St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter

Marks & Spencer M&S confirms Walsall store closure date High street retailer says it will shut up shop at The Saddlers Centre in August as part of wider reduction in portfolio of stores

CBSO Concert hall's winning friends in high places As the Opening Festival of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire continues apace, Christopher Morley talks to its principal, Julian Lloyd Webber

The Cube Birmingham New bowling to launch at The Cube this summer Boutique operator Lane7 confirms it will launch its latest venture in The Cube in August

Commercial Property Revamped Jewellery Quarter flats plan set for green light Regeneration of industrial site next to district's railway station is expected to be rubber stamped by council chiefs next week

Regional Affairs £2m boost for Highbury Estate restoration project The city council is the sole trustee of Highbury Estate in Moseley, including the Grade II* listed Highbury Hall

Business News Tony Xia has NOT sold his remaining Aston Villa shares - here's what's happened This is the current situation with Aston Villa and Tony Xia

Regional Affairs Risk of taxi 'go-slow’ protest in Birmingham over new crackdown on licence breaches It could happen in response to a new penalty point system set to punish drivers

Home Jaguar not only company at risk from no-deal Brexit, warns mayor The Jaguar boss said a bad Brexit deal could cost his company tens of thousands of jobs