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Discover a hidden landscape... on your doorstep

Located between Birmingham and Tamworth, in North and South-east , lies the Tame Valley Wetlands – a unique and hidden landscape on the doorstep of over a million people.

The area has a wealth of wildlife and heritage We are currently delivering an exciting interest, with the River Tame, its floodplain landscape partnership scheme, supported by and the canal network at its heart. the Heritage Lottery Fund, which works

towards our vision. We are completing a River Tame (Steve Cheshire) The Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape series of conservation projects aimed at Partnership works to protect and enhance restoring heritage and improving the area for The Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership is led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the area, with the vision of ‘creating a wetland wildlife and people. We are also improving includes a wide variety of charities, local groups, councils and statutory bodies: landscape, rich in wildlife and accessible to access so that everyone can enjoy the all’. The Partnership is led by Warwickshire landscape, as well as delivering activities, Wildlife Trust in partnership with a wide volunteering and learning opportunities variety of organisations including charities, aimed at improving people’s skills and local groups, councils and statutory bodies. connection with the landscape.

For more information, go to: www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk

Get involved!

Do you share our vision? Would you like to get involved? There are plenty of ways for you to help us, learn new skills and meet new people.

If you’d like to be active and spend time outdoors, you could join our ‘TameForce’ practical conservation group, or come along to one of our events or activities. Young people can join our youth group, and we also offer bespoke volunteering opportunities for businesses and groups with special needs.

For the full range of volunteering and training opportunities, go to www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk/get-involved Discover the Tame Valley Wetlands

1 BROAD MEADOW LOCAL NATURE RESERVE !¢ WHITACRE HEATH NATURE RESERVE (SSSI) What to see & do: This island between the River What to see & do: This former gravel quarry Tame and the flood relief channel is an ideal features woodland, wet grassland, pools and habitat for herons, terns, skylarks and lapwings. bird hides. Follow the waymarked footpaths. Look out for the rare Snake’s Head Fritillary. Access: Open to Trust members only. Car Access: From Oxbridge Way, via the bridge over parking on the Birmingham Road, 0.5km south- the weir to the west of the site. east of Lea Marston. Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk Website: www.wkwt.org.uk

2 TAMWORTH CASTLE !∞ HAMS HALL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE What to see & do: Explore one of the best What to see & do: Offices for Tame Valley preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Wetlands Project team, in the former walled . garden of Hams Hall. Access: Visit the website for opening times and Access: From Canton Lane, Hams Hall directions. Distribution Park. Website: www.tamworthcastle.co.uk Website: www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk

3 EGG MEADOW !§ LADYWALK NATURE RESERVE What to see & do: In spring, look out for the What to see & do: A range of pools, wet displays of snake’s head fritillary and the other grassland and woodland create an attractive wildflowers in the meadow. You can also enjoy habitat for a wide variety of birds - over 200 the circular cycle route around the outside of species have been recorded, including Bittern. the site. Access: Open to members of West Midland Bird Access: From the Snow Dome car park. Club and permit holders only. Parking off Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk Faraday Avenue, Hams Hall Distribution Park. Website: www.westmidlandbirdclub.com 4 BORROWPIT LAKE !¶ What to see & do: Enjoy a walk around the lake WHITACRE WATERWORKS and see Tamworth’s famous swans and many What to see & do: The magnificent Gothic other wetland birds. pumping station at Whitacre Heath was built in Access: From the Snow Dome car park. the 1860s to supply water to Birmingham. Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk Access: No public access but views from Hams Hall to Whitacre Heath footpath. 5 TAMESIDE LOCAL NATURE RESERVE (LNR) Website: www.stwater.co.uk What to see & do: Take a walk around the !• reserve and watch lapwings, cormorants and SHUSTOKE RESERVOIR terns on the islands. The reserve is managed by What to see & do: Built in the 1880s to supply Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group through water to Birmingham. There are a variety of the ‘Wild about Tamworth’ project. walks including a circular walk around the Access: From Fazeley Road – no on-site reservoir. There are opportunities for bird Project Area parking available. watching, fishing and sailing, and in the spring Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk Urban the reservoir banks are covered by wildflowers. Lakes Access: Main car park can be accessed from 6 DOSTHILL PARK LNR Rivers the B4114, Coleshill - Nuneaton Road. What to see & do: Take a walk through the park Canal Website: www.stwater.co.uk for wonderful view of the river and Dosthill Ñ Footpaths !ª Quarries beyond. The LNR is managed by COLE END PARK LNR Motorway Dosthill Park Wildlife Group through the ‘Wild What to see & do: This former mill site sits about Tamworth’ project. A Roads beside the River Cole. There are surfaced paths Access: From Blackwood Road, 3km to the Parking and a tree trail with leaf rubbing posts. south of Tamworth town centre, between the Access: Lichfield Road, Coleshill. A51 (Tamworth Road) and the River Tame. Website: www.northwarks.gov.uk Website: www.tamworth.gov.uk 8 RSPB MIDDLETON LAKES !¡ KINGSBURY WATER PARK @º CASTLE VALE CONSERVATION AREA 7 DRAYTON TURRET FOOTBRIDGE What to see & do: This 160ha reserve was a What to see & do: Lying at the heart of the Tame What to see & do: A green oasis on the edge of What to see & do: This unusual fairytale gravel quarry until 2007. The site contains lakes, Valley Wetlands, this 250ha country park Birmingham featuring wildflower meadows, footbridge crosses the Birmingham and Fazeley pools, reedbeds, meadows and woodland and is features lakes, pools, streams, marshes, hedgerows and woodland. canal near Drayton Bassett. It was probably a haven for wading and woodland birds, otters, woodland, meadows and the River Tame. With Access: Farnborough Road, Castle Vale. built in the 1830s for Sir Robert Peel, who lived dragonflies and butterflies. There are footpaths, way-marked trails, bike hire, bird hides, café nearby and who later became Prime Minister. viewpoints and an events programme. and a visitor / education centre. Ñ HEART OF ENGLAND WAY FOOTPATH Access: Limited parking next to the footbridge Access: Open to members of the public. Visit Access: Visitor centre and main car park (pay on The Heart of England Way is a 100 mile trail off A4091. the website for more details. entry) on Bodymoor Heath Lane, Bodymoor running from to Bourton-on- Website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Website: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves Heath, B76 0DY. the-Water in the . Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk Website: www.heartofenglandway.org 9 MIDDLETON HALL Birmingham to Fazeley canal (Chris Harris) !™ What to see & do: A Grade II listed building, KINGSBURY MEADOW LNR Ñ CENTENARY WAY FOOTPATH parts of which date from the 16th Centruy. What to see & do: Follow the boardwalk along This 100 mile path starts at Kingsbury Water Features formal gardens, nature trails, police the banks of the Hurley Brook through this Park and winds its way down to Upper Quinton museum, courtyard shops and café. traditional floodplain meadow. on the border. Access: From A4091. Access: Main entrance on Coventry Road (A51). Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk Website: www.middleton-hall.co.uk Website: www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk !º !£ For more information about where to go and BIRMINGHAM AND FAZELEY CANAL LEA MARSTON LAKES what to see in the Tame Valley Wetlands, visit: What to see & do: The canal provides an What to see & do: These former settling lagoons www.tamevalleywetlands.co.uk enjoyable walking, cycling or boating route are of regional significance for winter wildfowl between Tamworth and Birmingham. It provides populations. There is a bird hide and walks a home for creatures such as the water vole. around the lakes. Access: Towpaths open to the public – visit the Access: The car park entrance is on Coton website for more details. Road. Website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk