www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk
River Tame River
conservation and partnership working, and part of a ‘Living Landscape’. ‘Living a of part and working, partnership and conservation
restoration and creation, the Tame Valley is recognised as a key place for large area area large for place key a as recognised is Valley Tame the creation, and restoration
Due to the area’s existing value and the potential to further improve this through wetland wetland through this improve further to potential the and value existing area’s the to Due
essential resting and feeding places for hundreds of migrating birds. migrating of hundreds for places feeding and resting essential
regionally important river corridor is also a vital north-south migration route, providing providing route, migration north-south vital a also is corridor river important regionally
rare species. Home to several of the most important wildlife sites in the Midlands, this this Midlands, the in sites wildlife important most the of several to Home species. rare
Scrape
The Flashes The
Ross Rough Ross
The Tame Valley has a wide variety of habitats that host a rich diversity of wildlife and and wildlife of diversity rich a host that habitats of variety wide a has Valley Tame The The
largest series of interconnected wetlands in the county. the in wetlands interconnected of series largest
the old gravel working sites, which once blighted the landscape, now help to form the the form to help now landscape, the blighted once which sites, working gravel old the
live close to the River Tame. Despite the historical damage, the river is now cleaner and and cleaner now is river the damage, historical the Despite Tame. River the to close live
Today, there is a very different landscape to be enjoyed by nearly two million people who who people million two nearly by enjoyed be to landscape different very a is there Today,
ground nesting nesting ground birds.
to to on this site to prevent disturbance prevent to site this on
Please note: note: Please Dogs are not allowed allowed not are Dogs
Rana temporaria Rana Libellula depressa Libellula Satyrium w-album Satyrium Dactylorhiza praetermissa Dactylorhiza Caltha palustris palustris Caltha
Common Frog Common Broad-bodied Chaser Chaser Broad-bodied White-letter Hairstreak Hairstreak White-letter Southern Marsh Orchid Orchid Marsh Southern Marsh Marigold Marigold Marsh
Main Pool Main
P Car Park Car
River Pool River
Grassland Trail marker Trail
Frog Pool Frog Grassland
Water
Wet Toad Pool Toad
Road Bird Hides Bird
Trail Woodland
Pastures
P
KEY Fish Pool Fish Northern
Gary Farmer Gary Farmer Gary Farmer Gary Darin Smith Darin John Carter John
Birmingham Road Birmingham
engineered and cut-off from its floodplain. its from cut-off and engineered
damselflies and dragonflies such as the emperor dragonfly and broad-bodied chaser. broad-bodied and dragonfly emperor the as such dragonflies and damselflies occurred along much of the River Tame and by the 1980s the river was polluted, polluted, was river the 1980s the by and Tame River the of much along occurred
locally important butterflies such as small heath and white-letter hairstreak, and dazzling dazzling and hairstreak, white-letter and heath small as such butterflies important locally and woodland was replaced by agriculture, industry and housing. Gravel extraction extraction Gravel housing. and industry agriculture, by replaced was woodland and
Over one thousand species of invertebrate have been recorded on the reserve. These include include These reserve. the on recorded been have invertebrate of species thousand one Over During the industrial revolution, the Tame Valley changed completely – natural floodplain floodplain natural – completely changed Valley Tame the revolution, industrial the During
kingfishers, as well as a variety of warblers, finches, tits and thrushes. thrushes. and tits finches, warblers, of variety a as well as kingfishers, breeding wildfowl and large over-wintering populations of migrating birds and waders. and birds migrating of populations over-wintering large and wildfowl breeding
seen from Flashes Hide. Other frequently seen birds include great spotted woodpeckers and and woodpeckers spotted great include birds seen frequently Other Hide. Flashes from seen landscapes of wildlife-rich marshes, reeds and pastures. The area was known for its its for known was area The pastures. and reeds marshes, wildlife-rich of landscapes
such as lapwing, redshank, and both common and jack snipe also visit and can sometimes be be sometimes can and visit also snipe jack and common both and redshank, lapwing, as such Before the industrial revolution, the River Tame meandered slowly through broad broad through slowly meandered Tame River the revolution, industrial the Before
tufted duck and teal, which can be spotted from Scrape Hide and Main Pool Hide. Waders Waders Hide. Pool Main and Hide Scrape from spotted be can which teal, and duck tufted
Warwickshire.
but the reason for the site’s SSSI status is for its breeding water birds, including little grebe, grebe, little including birds, water breeding its for is status SSSI site’s the for reason the but
leaflet focuses on the River Tame between Birmingham and Tamworth, in north-west north-west in Tamworth, and Birmingham between Tame River the on focuses leaflet
Interesting plants include the southern marsh orchid, blue fleabane and pink purslane, purslane, pink and fleabane blue orchid, marsh southern the include plants Interesting
tributaries, the most significant of which are the rivers Rea, Cole, Blythe and Anker. This This Anker. and Blythe Cole, Rea, rivers the are which of significant most the tributaries,
shallow pools, wet grassland and wet woodland. wet and grassland wet pools, shallow at Water Orton and flowing north through Tamworth. It has a number of important important of number a has It Tamworth. through north flowing and Orton Water at
Valley. Lying on the floodplain, the reserve comprises a mosaic of habitats including including habitats of mosaic a comprises reserve the floodplain, the on Lying Valley. Black Country and continues eastwards through Birmingham, before changing direction direction changing before Birmingham, through eastwards continues and Country Black
Whitacre Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a key site within the Tame Tame the within site key a is (SSSI) Interest Scientific Special of Site Heath Whitacre The River Tame is 100km long and the largest tributary of the River Trent. It starts in the the in starts It Trent. River the of tributary largest the and long 100km is Tame River The
A Focus on Whitacre Heath Nature Reserve Nature Heath Whitacre on Focus A The Tame Valley Valley Tame The
The Wildlife Landscape of the The Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership In 2005, the Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership was established to help deliver landscape scale conservation and restoration throughout a 95km² area of the Tame Valley between Tame Valley Birmingham and Tamworth. Warwickshire The vision is to create a wetland landscape rich in wildlife and accessible to all, by working with organisations, landowners and local communities. The Partnership is led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and supported by the following partner organisations:
Get Involved! If you would like more information on how you can help care for the environment or would like details on practical volunteering, please contact Warwickshire Wildlife Trust at the address below:
Registered Office Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Brandon Marsh Nature Centre Brandon Lane Coventry CV3 3GW Telephone: 024 7630 2912 Warwickshire Fax: 024 7663 9556 Leaflet funded by Email: [email protected] Web: www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk
Registered Charity no. 209200 Cover Photography: Darin Smith
Creating a Living Landscape
www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk
River Tame River
conservation and partnership working, and part of a ‘Living Landscape’. ‘Living a of part and working, partnership and conservation
restoration and creation, the Tame Valley is recognised as a key place for large area area large for place key a as recognised is Valley Tame the creation, and restoration
Due to the area’s existing value and the potential to further improve this through wetland wetland through this improve further to potential the and value existing area’s the to Due
essential resting and feeding places for hundreds of migrating birds. migrating of hundreds for places feeding and resting essential
regionally important river corridor is also a vital north-south migration route, providing providing route, migration north-south vital a also is corridor river important regionally
rare species. Home to several of the most important wildlife sites in the Midlands, this this Midlands, the in sites wildlife important most the of several to Home species. rare
Scrape
The Flashes The
Ross Rough Ross
The Tame Valley has a wide variety of habitats that host a rich diversity of wildlife and and wildlife of diversity rich a host that habitats of variety wide a has Valley Tame The The
largest series of interconnected wetlands in the county. the in wetlands interconnected of series largest
the old gravel working sites, which once blighted the landscape, now help to form the the form to help now landscape, the blighted once which sites, working gravel old the
live close to the River Tame. Despite the historical damage, the river is now cleaner and and cleaner now is river the damage, historical the Despite Tame. River the to close live
Today, there is a very different landscape to be enjoyed by nearly two million people who who people million two nearly by enjoyed be to landscape different very a is there Today,
birds. nesting ground
to to disturbance prevent to site this on
Please note: note: Please Dogs are not allowed allowed not are Dogs
Rana temporaria Rana Libellula depressa Libellula Satyrium w-album Satyrium Dactylorhiza praetermissa Dactylorhiza Caltha palustris palustris Caltha
Common Frog Common Broad-bodied Chaser Chaser Broad-bodied White-letter Hairstreak Hairstreak White-letter Southern Marsh Orchid Orchid Marsh Southern Marsh Marigold Marigold Marsh
Main Pool Main
P Car Park Car
River Pool River
Grassland Trail marker Trail
Frog Pool Frog Grassland
Water
Wet Toad Pool Toad
Road Bird Hides Bird
Trail Woodland
Pastures
P
KEY Fish Pool Fish Northern
Gary Farmer Gary Farmer Gary Farmer Gary Darin Smith Darin John Carter John
Birmingham Road Birmingham
engineered and cut-off from its floodplain. its from cut-off and engineered
damselflies and dragonflies such as the emperor dragonfly and broad-bodied chaser. broad-bodied and dragonfly emperor the as such dragonflies and damselflies occurred along much of the River Tame and by the 1980s the river was polluted, polluted, was river the 1980s the by and Tame River the of much along occurred
locally important butterflies such as small heath and white-letter hairstreak, and dazzling dazzling and hairstreak, white-letter and heath small as such butterflies important locally and woodland was replaced by agriculture, industry and housing. Gravel extraction extraction Gravel housing. and industry agriculture, by replaced was woodland and
Over one thousand species of invertebrate have been recorded on the reserve. These include include These reserve. the on recorded been have invertebrate of species thousand one Over During the industrial revolution, the Tame Valley changed completely – natural floodplain floodplain natural – completely changed Valley Tame the revolution, industrial the During
kingfishers, as well as a variety of warblers, finches, tits and thrushes. thrushes. and tits finches, warblers, of variety a as well as kingfishers, breeding wildfowl and large over-wintering populations of migrating birds and waders. and birds migrating of populations over-wintering large and wildfowl breeding
seen from Flashes Hide. Other frequently seen birds include great spotted woodpeckers and and woodpeckers spotted great include birds seen frequently Other Hide. Flashes from seen landscapes of wildlife-rich marshes, reeds and pastures. The area was known for its its for known was area The pastures. and reeds marshes, wildlife-rich of landscapes
such as lapwing, redshank, and both common and jack snipe also visit and can sometimes be be sometimes can and visit also snipe jack and common both and redshank, lapwing, as such Before the industrial revolution, the River Tame meandered slowly through broad broad through slowly meandered Tame River the revolution, industrial the Before
tufted duck and teal, which can be spotted from Scrape Hide and Main Pool Hide. Waders Waders Hide. Pool Main and Hide Scrape from spotted be can which teal, and duck tufted
Warwickshire.
but the reason for the site’s SSSI status is for its breeding water birds, including little grebe, grebe, little including birds, water breeding its for is status SSSI site’s the for reason the but
leaflet focuses on the River Tame between Birmingham and Tamworth, in north-west north-west in Tamworth, and Birmingham between Tame River the on focuses leaflet
Interesting plants include the southern marsh orchid, blue fleabane and pink purslane, purslane, pink and fleabane blue orchid, marsh southern the include plants Interesting
tributaries, the most significant of which are the rivers Rea, Cole, Blythe and Anker. This This Anker. and Blythe Cole, Rea, rivers the are which of significant most the tributaries,
shallow pools, wet grassland and wet woodland. wet and grassland wet pools, shallow at Water Orton and flowing north through Tamworth. It has a number of important important of number a has It Tamworth. through north flowing and Orton Water at
Valley. Lying on the floodplain, the reserve comprises a mosaic of habitats including including habitats of mosaic a comprises reserve the floodplain, the on Lying Valley. Black Country and continues eastwards through Birmingham, before changing direction direction changing before Birmingham, through eastwards continues and Country Black
Whitacre Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a key site within the Tame Tame the within site key a is (SSSI) Interest Scientific Special of Site Heath Whitacre The River Tame is 100km long and the largest tributary of the River Trent. It starts in the the in starts It Trent. River the of tributary largest the and long 100km is Tame River The
A Focus on Whitacre Heath Nature Reserve Nature Heath Whitacre on Focus A The Tame Valley Valley Tame The
The Wildlife Landscape of the The Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership In 2005, the Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership was established to help deliver landscape scale conservation and restoration throughout a 95km² area of the Tame Valley between Tame Valley Birmingham and Tamworth. Warwickshire The vision is to create a wetland landscape rich in wildlife and accessible to all, by working with organisations, landowners and local communities. The Partnership is led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and supported by the following partner organisations:
Get Involved! If you would like more information on how you can help care for the environment or would like details on practical volunteering, please contact Warwickshire Wildlife Trust at the address below:
Registered Office Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Brandon Marsh Nature Centre Brandon Lane Coventry CV3 3GW Telephone: 024 7630 2912 Warwickshire Fax: 024 7663 9556 Leaflet funded by Email: [email protected] Web: www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk
Registered Charity no. 209200 Cover Photography: Darin Smith
Creating a Living Landscape Welcome to the Tame Valley
Broad Meadow KEY 1 What to do & see: This island between the River Tame and the flood relief channel is an ideal habitat for herons, terns, skylarks and lapwings. It also has a A51 Tamworth Motorway Wetlands population of the rare snake’s head fritillary. A Road Waterways Access: From Oxbridge Way, via the bridge over the weir to the west of the site. B Road P Car Park Contact: www.tamworth.gov.uk. Broad Meadow 2 1 Road Kingsbury Water Park Egg Meadow A51 Egg Meadow Visitor Centre & Parking 2 Railway What to do & see: Situated in the centre of Tamworth. In spring, look A453 Wildlife Sites out for the displays of snake’s head fritillary and the other wildflowers in the Foot Path Bird Hide meadow. You can also enjoy the circular cycle route which runs around the 3 A51 outside of the site. Map NOT to scale Barrowpit Access: From the Snow Dome car park. Lake Contact: www.tamworth.gov.uk. A5 Borrowpit Lake A5 A4091 3 Enjoy a walk around the lake and see Tamworth’s What to do & see: Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). famous swans and many other wetland birds. 4 Numbers of this long-billed wading bird Access: From the Snow Dome car park. are on the decline. It prefers the muddy Contact: www.tamworth.gov.uk. Tameside LNR edges of pools and wet grassland. It can B5404 4 Tameside Local Nature Reserve (LNR) Darin Smith be identified through its zigzag flight and What to do & see: With the River Tame to the east and the Coventry unique ‘drumming’ display by the males in Canal to the south, take a circular walk around the reserve and watch lapwings, the spring. cormorants and terns on the islands. Dragonflies, frogs and grass snakes may also be spotted. The LNR is managed by Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group through B5404 the ‘Wild about Tamworth’ project, a joint initiative between Staffordshire Wildlife A51 Trust and Tamworth Borough Council. Access: From Fazeley Road – no on-site parking available. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). Contact: www.tamworth.gov.uk. With iridescent plumage and a long A4091 5 Dosthill Park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) wispy crest on its head, Lapwings are What to do & see: Take a walk through the park and down to the River easily recognisable. They can be seen on Darin Smith Tame. Here you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the river and Dosthill 5 reserves within the Tame Valley. They Quarries beyond. The LNR is managed by Dosthill Park Wildlife Group through prefer wetlands with short vegetation and the ‘Wild about Tamworth’ project. Dosthill farmland. Access: From Blackwood Road, 3km to the south of Tamworth town centre, Park Dosthill between the A51 (Tamworth Road) and the River Tame. Contact: www.tamworth.gov.uk. 6 Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis). Can be seen on pools and wetlands. This Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Birmingham and excellent swimmer eats fish and aquatic 6 What to do & see: The canal provides an enjoyable walking, cycling or Fazeley Canal invertebrates which it catches underwater.
boating route between Tamworth and Curdworth (which then heads into the Darin Smith heart of Birmingham). Its route runs adjacent to the River Tame and marks the In spring the striped young are sometimes west side of the wetland sites within the Tame Valley. It also provides a linear carried on the adult’s back. habitat for creatures such as the water vole. Access: Towpaths open to the public – visit the website for more details. Contact: www.waterscape.com. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula). A medium-sized black and white diving duck Middleton Lakes 7 M42 with a small crest and yellow eye. In flight 7 What to do & see: This 160ha reserve was a gravel quarry until 2007. Middleton Lakes it shows a white stripe across the back of
Situated adjacent to Middleton Hall (owned by Middleton Hall Trust with a craft Darin Smith Stateley the wing. It prefers reservoirs, gravel pits centre and tea room) and between the River Tame and the Birmingham and P Cliff Piccadilly or lakes. Fazeley Canal, the site now contains lakes, pools, reedbeds, meadows and Middleton Hall woodland and is a haven for wading and woodland birds, otters, dragonflies and and Pool SSSI butterflies. There are footpaths, viewpoints and an events programme. Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Open to members of the public. To find out more about access and opening Access: Kingfishers are unmistakable small bright times, as well as the events programme and volunteering, visit the website. blue and orange birds that can be found Contact: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves. P along the river. They fly rapidly and low 8 Kingsbury Water Park over slow-flowing or still water, and hunt What to do & see: 250ha of country park comprising of 30 lakes, including John Sheppard fish from riverside perches, occasionally 8 Kingsbury fishing lakes, pools, streams, marshes, woodland, meadows and the River Tame, Bodymoor hovering above the water’s surface. with way-marked trails, bike hire, bird hides and a visitor / education centre. Heath Kingsbury Kingsbury Linear Access: Visitor centre and main car park (pay on entry) on Bodymoor Heath Lane, Water Park Park LNR Bodymoor Heath, B76 0DY. Toilet facilities (baby changing and disabled) are A51 Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius). available. See the website for more information. Now on the brink of extinction in Contact: www.warwickshire.gov.uk. Warwickshire, mainly due to habitat loss and Lea Marston Lakes predation from the non-native American mink. 9 Darin Smith Important work to protect this rare mammal What to do & see: The lakes, now with large areas of reedbed, are former A4097 settling lagoons and are of regional significance for winter wildfowl populations. is taking place within the valley through the There is a bird hide and walks around the lakes. Marston Tame Valley Wetlands Partnership. Access: The car park entrance is on Coton Road, and gates to this car park are shut at 18:30 in winter and 20:30 in summer. Access on foot can be obtained M42 A4097 Eurasian Otter (Lutra Lutra). at anytime. P Contact: www.environment-agency.gov.uk. After a dramatic decline in numbers, both 9 locally and nationally, otters returned to Whitacre Heath Nature Reserve (SSSI) 10 Lea Marston the Tame Valley in the late 1990s. These
The 44ha former gravel working site is on the B4098 Darin Smith What to do & see: Lakes elusive native mammals live, feed and floodplain of the River Tame. The reserve has fairly flat informal paths (after move around wetland sites along river and an initial steep slope up from the car park) with a way-marked route to 5 bird Lea canal corridors. hides. Paths are prone to flooding and are muddy in winter. See overleaf for Marston more details. Access: Open to members of the Trust only, with good car parking facilities on P the Birmingham Road, 0.5km south-east of Lea Marston. Birmingham Nether Contact: www.wkwt.org.uk. 10 Whitacre Ladywalk Nature Reserve Whitacre Heath 11 What to do & see: Approx. 50ha of wet grassland, reedbed and woodland Nature Reserve with the River Tame meandering around 3 sides of the reserve. A range of pools and pasture create a habitat attractive to a wide variety of birdlife - over 200 B4116 species of birds have been recorded, including wintering Bittern. 11 Shustoke Access: Open to members of West Midland Bird Club only, but there is a public P Reservoir bird hide which can be visited by contacting the club via the website. Ladywalk Nature 12 N Contact: www.westmidlandbirdclub.com. Reserve B4098 12 Shustoke Reservoir What to do & see: There are opportunities for bird watching, fishing and P sailing, and in the spring, the banks of the reservoir are covered by wildflowers. There are a variety of walks including a circular walk around the reservoir. It also River Tame links to the Heart of England Way and Centenary Way. The North Warwickshire B4114 Cycle Way also links to the site. Access: Main car park can be accessed from the B4114, Coleshill - Nuneaton Road. Contact: www.moretoexperience.co.uk.
Help to protect the Wetlands are wonderful places Please do your bit Tame Valley Wetlands by: for both people and wildlife for wetlands by: • Staying on the paths Their conservation is vital for the • Reducing your water usage • Keeping noise to a minimum protection of a vast number of • Avoiding the use of harmful detergents • Keeping dogs (if permitted) on a lead and species and for the enjoyment of • Creating a wildlife-friendly pond in cleaning up their mess future generations. your garden • Taking all litter home with you They also play a significant role in • Using peat-free compost helping to reduce the impacts of Getting involved through volunteering • Joining conservation organisations • climate change and flooding. • Joining local groups • Making a donation