Nature Features

If you look at a map of the Black Country, you'll see a 'big green blob' in the middle of a built-up area of housing estates, industry and motorways. This is the Sandwell Valley.

The reserve is just six miles from the Bullring in Birmingham and nine miles from Dudley town centre.

Lee Copplestone, site manager

Jump on a bus and within half an hour you can be surrounded by woodlands where you can hear birds singing, or stand in the wildflower meadow and take in the lush view of the Sandwell Valley and Forge Mill Lake - simply spectacular!

As the site manager at Sandwell Valley nature reserve, I feel lucky to be amongst those who get to explore the park every day. Where else can you listen to the buzzing sound of bees exploring the flowerbeds and watch the tumbling display of lapwings in spring, while working with spreadsheets. Yes, it’s a hard life!

Creating a wild and special place

This year the RSPB is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the nature reserve.

Sandwell Valley - excavation work

It all started when Hamstead colliery closed and Forge Mill Lake was created to aid flood alleviation work further down the River Tame. The leftover spoil was used to landscape the surrounding area.

The RSPB got involved and leased the site from the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, and in 1984 the RSPB finally opened the doors to the nature reserve.

This was seen as a great opportunity to get wildlife and nature back to Birmingham and Black Country. It was also part of the plan that local people would get a place to recharge their batteries and relax, and for local kids to get a chance to learn about the natural world on their doorstep.

Hard work & determination

Creating a nature reserve from scratch certainly didn't happen overnight and what you see today is the result was only made possible thanks to the hard work by determined staff, hundreds of volunteers and the financial support of RSPB members and local trusts.

Volunteers at Sandwell Valley

Carl Nicholson, a former RSPB Midlands regional officer told me: "I believed in it from the beginning. It never occurred to me that it would be anything other than an absolute success."

And Jim Treharne, one of the volunteers said: "As a young boy of 14, I would walk, play and enjoy the open space. This was well before the RSPB. I have seen the site develop into what it is today. I have seen the River Tame be transformed from the worst river in England to one of the best."

During the past 25 years, people from Birmingham and the Black Country have come to the nature reserve to go for a stroll around the lake, enjoy a family picnic or just to come here to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Pleasure to thousands

Each year around 35,000 people visit the nature reserve and 3,000 of those are local school children.

Lapwing. (Photo Andy Hay)

The nature reserve team also hosts holiday wildlife clubs, parent & toddler groups, field-teaching for primary school children, weekly health walks around Forge Mill Lake, and several community events each month ranging from moth and bat evenings to bird ringing days, plus many guided walks and other family-focused activities.

For people who would like to get involved in local conservation work, learn new skills or get to know new people, there is loads of volunteering opportunities available. Many local companies and organisations also come along to take part in team challenges and to do corporate work parties.

The nature reserve is all about people having a great experience of the natural world.

Birds and wildlife

While the nature reserve is a special place for people, the RSPB also constantly making efforts to make it attractive to birds and wildlife. Over 220 bird species have been seen in the Sandwell Valley, and the main colony of breeding lapwings (about eight pairs) nest on the main island on RSPB reserve. 

They have recently been joined by a pair of oystercatchers, who raised their first chick in 2007 and are now well established. The site is also great for butterflies, moths and bats.

Children pond dipping

Big Wild Party!

On Sunday 17th May from 2-5 pm, RSPB Sandwell Valley had a big party to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

This was a chance to find out more about the wildlife on your doorstep, with guided walks, craft activities, wildlife games, pond dipping, building a giant bird’s nest, and eating delicious birthday cake.

Jelly, the puppet with spiky green hair from CBeebies' The Story Makers and Green Balloon Club was there - and as ever, was a bit hit with the kids.