80/81 Sandwell Valley Nature Reserve

Where is it?

Slightly North-West of Birmingham City Centre - it includes West Bromwich, Handsworth and Hamstead. We concentrated our efforts on the area surrounding the RSPB reserve in Sandwell Valley Country Park.

What's there?

A well-maintained RSPB reserve with footpaths around Forge Mill Lake and a friendly visitors centre. Half way round the lake you meet a canal with towpath (though our A to Z insists it's the River Tame). We spotted a sadistic mallard duck riding the rapids and some local youths throwing stones at the swans. The youths made a quick getaway when they spotted Doug's official-looking flourescent yellow waterproof trousers. Fortunately the birds were not fazed and we saw Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, various types of gull, Goosander and Wigeon - mostly from the large new hide near the visitors centre, a very pleasant place to sit and eat sandwiches. A helpful volunteer in the hide pointed out interesting birds to us and let us look through his telescope. He was understandably excited when we offered him a chocolate-covered digestive biscuit.
Shortly after meeting the canal/river you can branch off on the cycle path to find Swan Pool. Sandwell Boating Club are active on this small lake and it was surreal to see numerous white sails silhouetted against the tower-blocks of West Bromwich in the distance. Eccentricity seemed to be the word for Swan Pool - we saw an unexplained caravan with colourful flags parked up next to the boats, a young man encouraging his miserable looking girlfriend to mountain bike her way through the mud, and a lone fisherman paying more attention to the football match blaring out on his radio than to his rod.

How do I get there?

Easy-peasy. Get the No 16 Bus to Hampstead from Bull St (Just off Corporation St) in Birmingham City Centre. Get off at the stop just after Hampstead Junior School and walk down the hill to the reserve.

Check out the RSPB website for opening times