Tesco Express

Sutton Park National Nature Reserve

Little Aston · 7.5 miles

Spanning more than 2,200 acres of heath, wetland and ancient woodland, Sutton Park National Nature Reserve lies on the edge of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, close to the Little Aston area of the West Midlands. Managed by Birmingham City Council since its designation as a nature reserve in 1997, the site offers unrestricted public entry and permits dogs throughout the grounds. Visitors can wander among seven lakes, explore a network of trails suitable for dog walking, pony trekking, mountain biking and kite-flying, or try the designated zones for model aeroplanes and helicopters. A visitor centre, several cafés, a municipal golf course to the south and a private 18-hole course on the western fringe complement the playgrounds, while a former donkey sanctuary now stands closed. Parking arrangements are currently under review, but no admission fee is required. The landscape bears evidence of continuous human use from the Iron Age onward, including burnt mounds, a prehistoric well and a preserved stretch of the Roman Icknield Street, still walkable near the Royal Oak Gate. Royal connections date back to the ninth-century Mercian forest, later becoming a Norman deer park and, in 1528, a royal grant to Sutton Coldfield by Henry VIII. Features such as Wyndley Pool, possibly of twelfth-century origin, and other historic pools created for watermills illustrate the park’s long-standing water management. A railway line cut through the area in 1879, with a now-defunct station closed in 1964, and the site has hosted wartime camps, the 1957 World Scout Jamboree and a 1992 BBC Radio 1 roadshow. Regular events include a free 5 km parkrun each Saturday at 09:00 from Boldmere Gate, alongside numerous organised runs throughout the year.

Babbs Mill Lake

Fordbridge · 9.3 miles

A man-made lake within Kingfisher Country Park serves as a balancing feature for floodwater from the nearby River Cole, and lies close to the Fordbridge area of Solihull. The water body, also known as Kingshurst Lake, gives its name to Babbs Mill Park, a space created to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. In 2002 the site was formally recognised as a Local Nature Reserve, reflecting its value for wildlife and recreation. Since August 2019 the lake has been the venue for a weekly Parkrun, offering a 5 km route that circles the water and provides a regular community exercise opportunity. The surrounding parkland supports walking and bird-watching, while the lake itself remains accessible to the public without a charge. Planning permission granted by Solihull Council in March 2016 allowed the construction of 52 houses on roughly seven per cent of the reserve, indicating ongoing development pressures on the area. A tragic incident occurred in December 2022 when ice formed on the lake’s surface, leading to the deaths of four children. An inquest later concluded the deaths were accidental. The lake continues to be managed as part of the local green network, with access via the surrounding footpaths and proximity to the Fordbridge settlement. No admission fee is required, and the site is open year-round for visitors.

Forge Mill Lake

Newton · 12 miles

A 63-hectare wetland reserve on the edge of West Bromwich provides a mix of open water, wildflower meadows and planted woodland, all linked by a network of footpaths, a cycleway and a bridleway. The lake, also known as Sandwell Valley Storage Lake, lies alongside the River Tame and was completed in 1981 as part of flood-alleviation works; its original capacity was 498,000 m³. Managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, the site was designated a local nature reserve in 1991, and a portion—including one of the two islands—is overseen by the RSPB as part of the adjacent Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve. A visitor centre at Forge Mill Farm offers information for those exploring the area. Wildfowl are a regular feature, with winter sightings that can include wigeon, snipe and water rail, while spring and autumn migrations bring a variety of rarer birds through the lake. The reservoir continues to be altered; as of 2020 work was under way to remodel the lake and increase its capacity within the Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme. Access is straightforward from the nearby town of Newton, and the surrounding pathways make it suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders seeking a natural setting within Sandwell Valley Country Park.

Booth's Farm farmhouse

Perry Beeches · 9.9 miles

Town Wall Nature Reserve

Bonehill · 1.2 miles

Local community nature reserve on the site of the old town wall

Sutton Park

Little Aston · 7.5 miles

Sutton Park may refer to the following places: