Frequent ‘twitching’ from the overlooking window of BTCV have noted sparrows, tits, dunnocks, dragon and damselflies. As elderflower boughs creek sedately to the low hum of parking cars in the Digbeth breeze, creatures remain undisturbed. And maybe that’s how this segment of wild Birmingham should stay – undisturbed.

The importance of maintaining sites like this in Digbeth was set-out in 2005 by the Eastside Biodiversity Strategy, a document informing decision-makers, landscape professionals and those who live, work and play in Digbeth. In short, it suggests that post-industrial wildlife habitats, like behind the Warehouse, should stay as they are. If it is felt appropriate to do so, sites could be enhanced. If a wild-space has to be lost and there is really no other alternative then they should be replaced on a like-for-like basis it advises.

At the time of surveying for the 2005 report, during summer 2004, access from Shaw’s Passage to the site was locked, and still is. In fact the report says little about the site specifically, except that it is almost entirely composed of buddleia. This is popular with butterflies, perhaps on their way to cherry blossom in Park Street Gardens.

Since the demolition of the crab-boiling factory, this waste ground site has been colonised by ruderal plants, from the Latin rudus meaning rubble. Nowadays we witness it evolving. Fuzzy willow catkins and stark red birch branches look down on buddleia, the great coloniser. The emergence of berry-bearing trees like elder is important for birds also, adding to the species reservoir. How many offices in Birmingham can say they hear the twittering of birds over their buzzing computers?

BTCV is a national conservation charity. BTCV Birmingham offers volunteering opportunities in practical environmental improvements for the local environment.