Woodgate Valley Country Park

Woodgate Valley Country Park
Location	Bartley Green/Quinton, Birmingham, England
Coordinates	52°26′53″N 1°59′46″W / 52.448°N 1.996°W / 52.448; -1.996Coordinates: 52°26′53″N 1°59′46″W / 52.448°N 1.996°W / 52.448; -1.996
Area	450 acres (180 ha)
Operated by	Birmingham City Council

Woodgate Valley Country Park is a Country Park within the Bartley Green and Quinton districts of Birmingham. It is the third largest Birmingham Country Park after Sutton Park and Lickey Hills Country Park. The park is maintained as a wildlife habitat but also has farm animals.

History

The Country Park was set up in 1984, having previously been rural land with smallholdings and larger farms. It comprises some 450 acres (180 ha) and is on land previously threatened by urban development.

Wild life

The park is maintained with varied wild life habitats. There are hedgerows, meadows and woodland, plus Bourn Brook. More than 80 species of bird, including marsh harrier, long-eared owl and kingfisher; and 250 species of plants including common bluebells, foxgloves and honeysuckle, have been recorded, as have butterflies including red admiral and small tortoiseshell. Many plants grow in the damp meadows. In 2008 muntjac deer were sighted by local residents.

Leisure facility

It is a place where visitors to go for a leisurely walk, observe wildlife, walk the dog or ride horses. Visitors can also get away from the noise, traffic and buildings of the city.

Woodgate Valley Urban Farm

This farm animal and environmental project (Registered Smallholding)occupies acreage at the western edge of the Country Park This community based Urban Farm is not managed or funded by the City Council but exists as a self-supporting Registered Charitable Company Ltd (by Guarantee) Although it is thereby a private and independent facility, it works in Partnership with the Council to provide a community resource in the area, and has its own charitable Area of benefit of 7.5 miles from the Farm itself.Visit www.wvurbanfarm.org.uk for full Project information and location.

Hole Farm

Completely separate but adjacent is the City Council Hole Farm Trekking Centre that caters for horse riding over a range of ages and abilities. Buses from Bromsgrove, Halesowen - but mostly from Birmingham city centre.

Visitor Centre

Rangers based in the Visitor Centre provide recreational activities and also educational activities like a wild food walk and school activities. The Visitor Centre has a café and displays about the park. A play area for children and a picnic area are just outside.

References and external links

Parks and open spaces in Birmingham, England

Parks & gardens	Adderley Park Aston Park Billesley Common Bleak Hill Park Brookvale Park Calthorpe Park Cannon Hill Park Cofton Park Cotteridge Park Eastside City Park Handsworth Park Highbury Highgate Park Kingfisher Country Park Kings Heath Park Lickey Hills Country Park Lightwoods Park New Hall Valley Country Park Perry Hall Park Perry Park Pype Hayes Park Queens Park Selly Oak Park Shire Country Park Short Heath Park Sutton Park Swanshurst Park Woodgate Valley Country Park

Gardens	Botanical Gardens Martineau Gardens St. Thomas' Peace Garden Winterbourne Botanic Garden

Nature reserves (not listed above)	Edgbaston Pool Harborne Reserve Moseley Bog Plantsbrook Local Nature Reserve Sandwell Valley (part)

Cemeteries	Brandwood End Handsworth Key Hill Lodge Hill Perry Barr Crematorium Warstone Lane Witton

Reservoirs	Aston Bartley Brookvale Park Lake Edgbaston Frankley Lifford Perry Barr (covered) Perry Witton Lakes

Related	Birmingham Parks Police

Category

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/13/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.