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Overview:
Sheepwash Urban Park is located 1 mile south-east of Tipton and is a Site of Local Interest for Nature Conservation owned by Sandwell Borough Council. The site covers 91 acres and was originally used for waste disposal and a brickworks but was reclaimed during the 1980's and has since been restored as an oasis for wildlife. As the name implies, the site is completely surrounded by urban development and lies off the New Main Line canal between Great Bridge and Oldbury. There is a surprisingly wide range of habitats including scrub, grassland, mature woodland, small pools and a large lake. The Oldbury Arm of the River Tame passes the western side and feeds a number of the pools. For an Ordnance Survey map of the area click here.
Access:
The site is open to the public all year round. Access on foot is possible from a number of points including Anne Close, Philip Road, Sheepwash Lane and Johns Lane. Please park considerately in these residential streets. While some paths are suitable for wheelchairs, many are are uneven and on slopes. Cycling is not permitted on the reserve. A number of bus routes pass within walking distance of the reserve - contact Centro for further details.
Birdlife:
During the breeding season there are nesting Little Ringed Plover and Common Terns along with a surprising number of commoner species including Skylark, Green Woodpecker, Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting. Kingfishers are frequently encountered while Goosanders are often present during the winter months. Despite the location, this green oasis can attract an impressive range of passage migrants during spring and autumn with recent records of Little Egret, Little Gull, Kittiwake and Arctic and Black Terns while waders can include Dunlin and Common Sandpiper or even a Black-tailed Godwit or Turnstone. In common with many similar sites in large urban areas, it has an extraordinary track record for attracting rarities. Over the years these have included Black-necked Grebes, Spoonbills, Night Heron, Pomarine Skua, Grey Phalarope and Dusky Warbler.
Aerial view of Sheepwash Urban Park:
View Sheepwash Urban Park in a larger map
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