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Woodgate Valley Park, near the M5 at Junction
3, has over 450 acres of woodland, wetland and
meadows. Many events take place here for the enjoyment
of children and the pony trekking is particularly
popular. The visitor centre provides information
on the park and its events as well as being a
place for refreshments.
A local charity operate an independent urban farm
within the park boundries which houses domestic
animals, birds and pets for the enjoyment of visitors. The
Bourn Brook flows runs through the centre of Woodgate Valley Park. This
actually forms the boundary between Quinton and Bartley Green. Along
the brook there is evidence of burnt mounds from the Bronze Age,
proving that man once lived here around 2500BC. Plenty
of wildlife can be seen here including buzzards and swallows hunting
over the fields in the summer months. With plenty of hay meadows and
over 250 species of plants having been found, the meadows are a haven
to butterflies and wild flowers. History This
area would originally have been farmland for arable crops and dairy
cattle. Records mention Hole Farm listed as a stock and dairy farm in
1344. Hole Farm is now the Trekking Centre and the Urban Farm. Industry in this area would have included brick and tile making, coal mining and nail making. The Lapal Tunnel is a disused canal tunnel which used to be part of the Dudley No. 2 Canal. This
narrow brick lined tunnel would have had no towpath. Passing through
the tunnel would have involved passage by legging or poling. The tunnel
suffered from several collapses and it was abandoned in 1917.
The tunnel is called Lapal after the residential area of Halesowen.
Little evidence exists today due to the fact that the canal either side
of the tunnel has been filled in. This
area was designated a Country Park in 1984 and is managed by
Birmingham's Park Ranger Service. The visitor centre is open daily from
10am - 4.30pm in the winter and 10am - 7pm in the summer.
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