Bromwich Wood Local Nature Reserve
Bromwich Wood, or Bluebell Wood as it is affectionately known locally, is a modest sized semi-natural ancient woodland on the west side of Bartley Reservoir, next to the Kitwell Playing Field and alongside Scotland Lane. Designated a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) since 1991, and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), It is mostly managed by the Woodgate Valley Rangers Team, and as of 2022 are supported by local volunteers, through Friends of Bartley Reservoir, to maintain, conserve, and develop the woods. The council's outsourced Highways service delivered by Kier, and the Waste Management Team based at Liffford Lane, also play their part in the maintenance of the road and pathways at the front and back of the woods.
Natural England, and The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, in their guide to local wildlife sites, reports: Bromwich Wood is dominated by Oak Tress with a good diversity of other tree and shrub species, making a good place to visit if you want to practice your tree identification skills. See if you can discover Ash, Sweet Chestnut, Wild Cherry, Alder and Rowan, as well as shrubs such as Hazel, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Elder, Holly, Guelder Rose and Dog Rose. On summer evenings the rich scent of the Honeysuckle which clambers through many of the shrubs attracts moths to its pale flowers.
Spring flowering plants which are typical of ancient woodland such as Bluebell, Yellow Archangel and Wood Anemone may be seen here. The scarce Wood Horsetail, with its delicate, drooping, green fronds is a speciality of the the reserve. Search for this 'living fossil' (whose relative have been on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs) in the damper areas of the woodland. Bromwich Wood has a good compliment of nesting birds - listen and look out for Jay, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin and Owl.
There is a second semi-ancient woodland in the area called 'Cuttler's Rough', which is now much reduced in size compared to what it once was. This is located in the grounds of Frankley Water Treatment Works and Reservoir, and is not accessible to the public. However, whilst not an LNR, it is also designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation which affords it some protection.