Walking and Cycling in the Black Country Move 4 Summer Introduction Why is activity important? There’s never been Being active is Benefits of activity Improves Improves a great way of blood sleep a better time to get cholesterol Improves Improves improving your life mental expectancy health active for your health health. Improves Reduces blood anxiety You don’t have to go far to start walking. You pressure just need to step outside. Active Black Country research shows that, during lockdown, most Improves and wellbeing. Reduces people simply decided to exercise once-a-day by muscle pain walking around their local streets for strength 20-30 minutes. You’ve been advised by a Health Care Professional to start being a bit more active Improves Alternatively, if you want to go further afield, and there’s lot of reasons why this is a good idea. We understand that making sexual there are lot of options available. Whilst the Black function those first changes to your lifestyle can often be the hardest ones to take. Country has a proud industrial past, there are so This booklet will help you make decisions on how and where to be active in the many green spaces to explore. surrounding area. It also reduces your chances of developing a number of preventable health conditions PLEASE NOTE: 50% less chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes Please be safe when visiting parks and open spaces. If outdoor gym or play equipment 50% less chance of developing high blood pressure is available for use, please use it responsibly and follow Public Health 40% less chance of developing coronary heart disease England guidance on hand washing. 35% less chance of developing cardiovascular disease Please don’t visit these spaces if you’re suffering with symptoms 30% less chance of having a stroke of coronavirus. Please keep your distance if you’re 25% less chance of developing certain types walking or on a bike, of cancer (including breast and colon) staying at least 2 metres 25% less chance of developing joint and back pain away from other people. 21% less chance of having a fall Where you can Where you can go Walking and DUDLEY go Walking and SANDWELL Cycling in... Cycling in... 1 6 1 6 Netherton Park Buffery Park Canal Network Canals Barnford Park Victoria Park, Canal Network Canals Our canals are fantastic places Our canals are fantastic places National Cycle Network to go for a walk or bike ride Smethwick National Cycle Network Postcode: DY2 9EX Postcode: DY2 8SH to go for a walk or bike ride UNESCO Geosites Postcode: B68 8EH Postcode: B66 3NT UNESCO Geosites One of Dudley’s Healthy Hub Covering six hectares of park National National parks with large areas of flat land, this site is a popular This park, located in the heart Located off Smethwick High managed grass, smaller areas of recreation point with shaded and Cycling Route of Oldbury, offers gentle walks, a Street, this is a popular park for Cycling Route shaded and unshaded areas of unshaded points and managed maze area, community pavilion Sustrans have designated local walkers with circular routes, Sustrans have designated grass, managed and unmanaged pathways that are ideal for and car park. Accessible via the cycling routes that stretch disabled parking, a bandstand, cycling routes that stretch pathways and wildlife areas. enjoyable walks. Accessible via 53, 122, 128 and 129 bus routes. across the country. ornamental lake and wildflower across the country. the 7, 11, 11a and 19 bus routes. This park has links to canal and area. Accessible via the 53, 55, railway walks and is close to 80, 87 and 89 bus routes. other great walking destinations UNESCO Geosites UNESCO Geosites such as the Dudley No.2 canal 2 and Bumble Hole Nature reserve. 7 3 As of July 2020, the Black Brunswick Park As of July 2020, the Black Accessible via the 7 bus route. Stevens Park Country became a UNESCO Country became a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Geopark 7 Global Geopark. The Geopark sites are shown on the map, Victoria Park, Postcode: WS10 9QR sites are shown on the map, Postcode: DY5 2JU for more information on each for more information on each 2 go to blackcountrygeopark. Tipton go to blackcountrygeopark. 8 dudley.gov.uk Huntingtree Park Dating back to 1887, this park dudley.gov.uk This seven-hectare site offers offers a range of facilities Postcode: DY4 8LN fantastic views, particularly including circular walking route, around sunset and is undergoing 7 ornamental gardens and a Postcode: B63 4EX a significant restoration to bandstand. Accessible via the 3a, Popular with Tipton residents, improve the walking routes. 40, 47a, 65 and 311 bus routes. this park has designated nature 2 A Healthy Hub park with large Accessible via the 7 bus route. trails and walking routes, an shaded and unshaded areas of ornamental pond and wildflower managed grass, managed and area. Accessible via the 42, 44 unmanaged pathways and an 5 and 229 bus routes. accessible route for people with 8 3 disabilities. There are signage Himley Hall Dartmouth Park boards that show walking routes around the park. Accessible via & Park the 4H bus route. 8 Postcode: B71 4AS Warley Woods Postcode: DY3 4DF 3 Located in comfortable walking 180 acres of landscaped parkland distance from West Bromwich Postcode: B67 5ED Silver Jubilee Park including a café, lake and town centre, Dartmouth Park is car park. The site is adjacent undergoing a £6m restoration Smethwick’s 100-acre, Green Flag to Baggeridge Country Park, 9 1 project and features a pavilion award winning community park Postcode: WV14 9SZ providing even more walking and with toilets, ornamental lakes, with its mix of open meadow and cycling options. Accessible via walking routes, floral displays and nine-hole golf course has some This Healthy Hub park has the 15 bus route. parking. Accessible via the 45, 60 of the region’s most beautiful 9 suitably positioned benches as and 640 bus routes. woodland, offering nature walks, 7 part of a Blue Badge disabled 10 trails and free parking. Accessible 3 route, areas of flat managed 9 via the FW1, 48, 49, 53, 127, 128, grass, shaded areas that are ideal Wren’s Nest 129, 636 and 699 bus routes. for picnics and managed tarmac 4 pathways. Helpful signage boards National Nature display walking routes around the Haden Hill Park park. Accessible via the 8, 81, and Reserve 9 82 bus routes. 6 Postcode: B64 7JU Sandwell Valley Postcode: DY1 3SB 4 A short walk from Haden Hill Country Park A site of exceptional importance, Leisure Centre, this park features Mary Stevens Park Wren’s Nest National Nature 2 ornamental pools, toilets, Reserve is one of the most woodland walks and ornamental notable geological locations Postcode: B71 4BG gardens. Accessible via the 141 Postcode: DY8 2AD in Great Britain and studied by and 244 bus routes. Finding somewhere for a quiet geologists from all over the world. This famous site is a Healthy Hub 4 walk is easy in Sandwell Valley park and has toilets, a café, a This is a great site to go walking Country Park. Whether you are 6 health pool and free car parking however, please note, there are 2 a keen rambler, or just want to subject to availability. You can no visitor facilities (such as 5 go for a walk with the dog or also use the signage boards to toilets) at this location and the family, with 660 acres to walk direct you on a number of walking topography is varied with some Lightwoods Park round, you can go for a quiet routes around the park. Located steep slopes. Accessible via the stroll in pleasant surroundings 1 a short walk from Stourbridge 82 bus route. through woods, farmland and town centre, this park is also Postcode: B67 5DP by pools and streams. Many accessible via the 7, 10a and 10c of the footpaths are surfaced. bus routes. 10 This park, located next to the Accessible via the 45, 60 and Hagley Road, has recently 640 bus routes. 5 Saltwells Local benefited from a £5.2m restoration project and features 4 8 5 Nature Reserve extensive managed grassland, gardens and a bandstand. Grange Park Accessible via the 9, 20, 49, 61, Postcode: DY2 0BY 82, 122, 126, 140 and 692 bus routes. Postcode: DY1 2AP Covering 247 acres, Saltwells is one of the UK’s largest local nature reserves, encompassing Grange Park holds impressive Daphne Pool (with 16 recorded views out towards Russells Hall species of Dragonfly), extensive and its varied landscape makes it bluebell woodland and geological a popular choice for walking and sites of special scientific running. Accessible via the 2, 2a interest. Accessible via the 7, 8, 15 and 17 bus routes. and 18 bus routes. This is just a selection of potential locations to walk or cycle. For more information on these sites This is just a selection of potential locations to walk or cycle. For more information on these and others in Dudley, go to dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/parks-and-open-spaces sites and others in Sandwell, go to sandwell.gov.uk/parks Where you can Where you can go Walking and WALSALL go Walking and WOLVERHAMPTON Cycling in... Cycling in... 1 6 Willenhall Reedswood Park Canal Network Canals 1 6 Our canals are fantastic places Phoenix Park Canal Network Canals Memorial Park National Cycle Network to go for a walk or bike ride Bantock Park Postcode: WS2 8SP National Cycle Network Our canals are fantastic places UNESCO Geosites to go for a walk or bike ride Postcode: WV3 9LQ Postcode: WV2 3JU Postcode: WV13 2PW A large park, close to the National UNESCO Geosites Crown Wharf end of the town With approximately 16 hectares Located in Blakenhall on the centre, this site has a circular National Created in the 1920s, this park Cycling Route of open space, nature trails and Dudley Road, visitors to Phoenix path that is ideal for a 1,000m has been carefully developed Sustrans have designated restored gardens, this site has Park can enjoy a sensory garden, health walk and is bordered by Cycling Route by Walsall MBC and community cycling routes that stretch a rich history and has recently a network of paths, playing fields woodland and the Victory Pools Sustrans have designated groups and features a bandstand, across the country.