Love our parks - get involved!

As Lockdown rules start to enable more people to enjoy their parks and green spaces, we all want to ensure that these wonderful places of natural beauty are protected for all to enjoy.  This community collective will share some of the brilliant initiatives running across the UK and show just how, together, we can make a difference for the benefit of all.  Connect with us.

Over the next month and for the remainder of 2020, we will be growing our reach and pull together information and details on all the great work being carried out across communities as they collectively protect their parks.  

This will grow into a massive 'community-led' resource for people with a shared interest and passion for their local parks and green spaces.  

Here's just a few of the ideas and initiatives we will be telling you more about so we can share and get more people actively involved.

Litter picking groups - they do a fantastic job.  We'll connect you with your local group.

Art & Culture Trail.  We'll help you set up your trail and showcase your parks.

Walking clubs. We'll connect you and bring in more friends.

Park angels.  Volunteering with a difference.  We'll tell you more.

Creativity and green spaces collide.  Let's look at how art, music, photography and creativity in all its forms can help promote and protect our parks. 

Parks and mental health.  A walk, ride or jog in the park can do so much for your mental health.

There's something for everyone.

Connect with us and help us protect our parks. 

 

Selly Oak Junction - a decades development of the Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal

A new public space has recently opened near the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak, at the Bristol Road. The site of the Winding Hole of the Lapal Canal restoration project (Dudley No. 2 Canal). When the new Selly Oak Shopping Park opened in late 2018, work started near the railway to build a new footbridge and area the public could enter. Historically the site of lime kilns.

December 2009

A couple of days before Christmas Eve 2009, I headed to Selly Oak with my then bridge camera. Caught the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from the Bristol Road for the first time. Snow and ice on the water. To the left is the Battery Park site (later to be developed into Selly Oak Shopping Park). On the right was the former site of the Winding Hole of the Lapal Canal. This was Selly Oak Junction. Dudley No. 2 Canal used to join here, and would head to the left of this point.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Dec 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Super Hospital (later to be named Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham) and the Selly Oak Bypass were under construction at the time. The hospital would open in 2010, and the bypass in 2011 (under the name of Aston Webb Boulevard). On the other side of the Bristol Road is Selly Oak Station.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Dec 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

June 2011

Next to the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931 on the Bristol Road, there also used to be this brick viaduct next to the existing Cross City Line. It was probably built in the 1870s, which resulted in two of the lime kilns that used to be on this site being levelled.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Viaduct Bristol Rd (Jun 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

For many years, the area to the left was overgrown with trees or shrubs. Clearance of the land began in 2012, and the unused viaduct was demolished by 2015.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Viaduct Bristol Rd (Jun 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

February 2013

A walk along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak towards the Ariel Aqueduct and University of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

At the Bristol Road / Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal, you could at the time see some land clearance, and the old graffitied buildings remaining. The brick viaduct was still there. This view to the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The original winding hole of the Lapal Canal, used to be around here. Two more years and the abandoned brick viaduct would be demolished.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Up ahead, a sign on the wall for www.lapal.org. The current website is www.lapalcanal.co.uk

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Not sure of the age of these derelict buildings, but they were all covered in graffiti and had broken windows.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Some of them had metal walls and roofs.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

These two would be demolished in the following years to come.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Cross City Line was behind, as well as the Selly Oak Electricity Substation building (near the Bournbrook Skate Park).

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

May 2015

The brick viaduct of the 1870s was demolished by 2015, and the hole site was cleared.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You can now see the Cross City Line viaduct from the Bristol Road in Selly Oak for the first time in years.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

All the overgrowth was cut down, the derelict buildings demolished, as well as the removal of the unused viaduct.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

June to October 2018

Construction of the new Selly Oak Shopping Park began in the autumn of 2017, and would be completed a year later in the autumn of 2018. This would include a new Sainsbury's store, as well as a Unite Students accommodation block. In June 2018, I saw this temporary builders footbridge crossing the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, from the Winding Hole site to the Shopping Park site.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jun 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another look, but this time from the no 61 bus (top deck) on the Bristol Road, during October 2018. In a matter of weeks, the new Selly Oak Shopping Park and Sainsbury's would open to the public for the first time. A more permanent footbridge would be built at this site in 2020. And there would also be a new canal entrance built from the Bristol Road in 2019 as well.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August to October 2019

A new entrance and footbridge being built near the Bristol Road, Sainsbury's and Unite Students accommodation. Seen here during August 2019. Before then, you had to walk the long way around to the Selly Oak Shopping Park to Aston Webb Boulevard.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new bridge would also be above the future tunnel of the Lapal Canal that would go under the new Sainsbury's in Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A visit to the Selly Oak Shopping Park during October 2019. The temporary footbridge from 2018 is gone.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new footbridge over the entrance to the Lapal Canal was now open, and fully landscaped around the Unite Students accommodation. Winding Hole site on the far right all behind hoardings.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One day in the future, those who built and restore the Lapal Canal will have to dig up the surface below this new footbridge.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is now a quick and easy route from the Bristol Road and Selly Oak Station to get to the Selly Oak Shopping Park. And more safer than the old canal entrance from Selly Oak (down The Dingle near a 2nd hand car showroom).

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

January to October 2020

First year of the pandemic. In January 2020 I went to Selly Oak to go into the new Sainsbury's. While there got these views. This area near the new footbridge at Bristol Road, next to the old bridge over the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A West Midlands Railway Class 323 train on the Cross City Line, as work was under way at the Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Blue hoardings on the left, as during 2020, the new permanent footbridge would be built at the site. Seems like plenty of activity at the time on the other side of the canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Views from the no 63 bus on the Bristol Road in Selly Oak, taken during February 2020. The footbridge over the start of the Lapal Canal near Sainsbury's at the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This would be the last time I would pass the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak before the first lockdown started about a month later. You can see the route of the Lapal Canal, that it will go in the future (after restoration). Part of the existing towpath would have to go, and people would have to cross over the footbridge.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After the first lockdown, restrictions were being eased by summer 2020. During August 2020, I walked a section of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, and saw the new footbridge under construction from the Selly Oak Shopping Park, to the Winding Hole site to the right.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Both sides had ramps and steps that the builders were installing here. The original pipe bridge and railway bridge were still behind.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new ramps and steps on the Winding Hole side of the canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Saw a West Midlands Railway Class 170 train passing in orange and white. These trains are now in purple, before they are transferred onto East Midlands Railway.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The ramps and steps on the side of the canal near the Selly Oak Shopping Park.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

General canal view of the new footbridge as of August 2020.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One more view of the new footbridge during October 2020, days before the 2nd lockdown began. This was from a Stirchley to Selly Oak canal walk that I did at the time. Wouldn't be back here again under after the 3rd lockdown restrictions were being eased during Spring 2021.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2020).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

April 2021

The third lockdown from January 2021, meant I couldn't travel back to Selly Oak on public transport until April 2021. Got the train down to Bournville and walked up via Linden Road and Oak Tree Lane on the 24th April 2021. Walked down the Bristol Road, and got this view of the area as it is now. What a transformation!

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was completed in either late 2020 or early 2021. The grass on the right is where the winding hole of the Lapal Canal will be (once restored). But they will have to dig that all out.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Metal fence along the Bristol Road, as I headed down to the entrance.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is bollards close to where the old viaduct used to end, until it was demolished more than 6 years ago.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the first time I think the area has been opened up to the public. From 1842 until 2000 it was the site to Goodman's, a successful builders merchant.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The area was also known as Whitehouse's Wharf. Selly Oak Junction opened here in 1798. The canal basin on this site was filled in during the 1940s. Sign in the middle all about the history and of the lime kilns that used to be here.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading to the footbridge, the ramps on the right, steps on the left.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Before going onto the ramps, saw this Cross Country Voyager train heading south over the Cross City Line viaduct bridges.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I went up half of the ramps, before going up the rest of the way up the steps.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view from the top of the ramps. Hard to believe what a mess this site was a decade ago.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crossing the footbridge to the Selly Oak Shopping Park. Sainsbury's on the left.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the footbridge, look how nice, clean and tidy the area is now. More work of course in the future for the Lapal Canal restoration. Will take a long time to reach Dudley again.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After a drink at Costa Coffee (sat on a bench outside of Sainsbury's). I headed back to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, to get a train back to Birmingham New Street from Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the winding hole site. Looks nice with the grass, but that will have to go when they dig down to restore it in the future.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look, before crossing Bristol Road, to get my train back to the City Centre. People with bikes can cycle all the way from here if they want to.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

West Midlands Cycle Hire on High Street, Solihull

Remember Boris Bikes in London (aka Santander Bikes)? Well our Metro Mayor Andy Street has brought them to the West Midlands. West Midlands Cycle Hire has bikes at various points around the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. I saw some on the Solihull High Street not far from the Masons Arms Public House. Not spotted any in Birmingham yet.

West Midlands Cycle Hire is already available in Coventry, Stourbridge, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton. The scheme will be coming to Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall soon. To use it, you need to download the Beryl cycle hire app from the App Store or Google Play. Use the app to unlock the bike. Ride it, later dock it, and lock it.

Use this link for the station map.

 

In Solihull Town Centre, there is 5 docking points.

1. Station Approach (near Solihull Station)
2. Station Road
3. Lode Lane (near Solihull Hospital)
4. High Street (near the Masons Arms)
5. Malvern & Brueton Park (not far from Park Road)

 

The only location I was aware of, was at the end of High Street in Solihull. Close to New Road and St Alphege's Church. Solihull Welcomes You! Safer, Stronger Solihull.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This docking point on the High Street is close to The Masons Arms.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

As well as Hunters. Drury Lane to the left, leads to Mell Square.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

New blue cycle lane from Selly Oak Triangle up the Bristol Road

The final phase of extending the Selly Oak Bypass is now complete. Harborne Lane has been bi-directional to traffic since the end of October 2020, and it seems that Chapel Lane is the same. The blue cycle lane runs past the former Sainsbury's store. Beyond that is red and white bollards past the new Sainsbury's close to Selly Oak Station and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

New Blue Cycle Lane from Selly Oak Triangle along the Bristol Road

The work to extend the Selly Oak Bypass to the Bristol Road was completed at the end of 2020. A new blue cycle lane has been installed that runs down the side of the former Sainsbury's store (the plans for student flats were thankfully rejected).

 

Harborne Lane at Selly Oak Triangle

From Oak Tree Lane and Bristol Road in Selly Oak, you can see that traffic now goes in both directions, where as before it was one way. The ambulance was crossing from Oak Tree Lane to Harborne Lane.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The start of the new blue cycle lane at Selly Oak Triangle. Lots of new traffic lights and lampposts, no benches or trees at this point.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Part of the cycle lane comes from Harborne Lane.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bristol Road towards Chapel Lane

There is a new bus lane that goes from Harborne Lane onto the Bristol Road. The bus stops have been moved to outside of the former Sainsbury's store.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crossing over the bus lane. It all looks nice and new. Not sure if any cyclist has used it yet.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is still trees growing in front of the former Sainsbury's store. Re-located bus stops on the right.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New young trees have been planted down here. Let's hope that they last and have a chance to grow.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Frankie & Benny's ahead at the Chapel Lane junction with the Bristol Road, sadly closed down in 2020 during the previous lockdowns.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Chapel Lane at the Bristol Road junction

At the Chapel Lane junction with the Bristol Road. Before this was one way, but it is now bi-directional as well. Speed limit of 20 mph. Former Frankie & Benny's restaurant on the right.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bristol Road beyond Chapel Lane

No longer bus stop outside of the ex Frankie & Benny's. But there is some new cycle racks. TouchBase Pears up ahead on the right.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The pop up cycle lane that is now on the Bristol Road in Selly Oak near TouchBase Pears. Up ahead is the new Sainsbury's and Unite student accommodation at the Selly Oak Shopping Park.

dndimg alt="Selly Oak Triangle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Triangle (Apr 2021) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Bartley Reservoir in Bartley Green

In Bartley Green is located Bartley Reservoir. It is on Genners Lane at the retaining wall (dam) and Scotland Lane. Completed in 1930, the reservoir is now operated by Severn Trent Water. It receives water from the Elan Valley Reservoirs in Wales, which comes from the nearby Elan Aqueduct. The reservoir is also home to Bartley Sailing Club. And is close to King Edward VI Five Ways School.

Bartley Reservoir

You can get to Bartley Reservoir on the no 18 bus, that goes past Newman University, and can get off near Genners Lane. On Scotland Lane there is a picnic area and some car parking spaces. But you could also park a bit further down, close to King Edward VI Five Ways School. Other nearby bus routes include the 23.

My visits during December 2015 (by bus) and March 2021 (by car).

 

Bartley Reservoir, December 2015

Getting off the no 18 bus on Genners Lane in Bartley Green, I was eager to try out my then new bridge camera (which I'm still using today over 5 years later). Could see the retaining wall (or dam) at Bartley Reservoir on the left.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was very windy at the time, so the water on Bartley Reservoir was a bit choppy due to Storm Desmond.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The direct view of the reservoir from Genners Lane. It was like the tide was coming in.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Between the retaining wall on Genners Lane and the water was a fence on the left. In the distance you can see Newman University.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Distant fields showing you that the reservoir is close to the countryside.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

More of the same views of the reservoir as I walked up Genners Lane.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A bit of a zoom in to the fields to the back of the reservoir.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Halfway down there is a bench where you can sit and watch the reservoir. Bird watching perhaps, or on days when members of Bartley Sailing Club are out on the water?

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The far end of the retaining wall (or dam).

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was very windy that day at Bartley Reservoir, this was to the north west corner.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (18).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look at the reservoir from the end of the retaining wall.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (19).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Small Tower at Bartley Reservoir

Saw this small tower from Genners Lane, behind it was Bartley Sailing Club. The gate was locked.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I would guess it would have something to do with the water coming from the Elan Valley in Wales.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Only Severn Trent staff can go down that bridge I would think.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The gate was locked, and was danger signs, also No swimming allowed.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bartley Sailing Club 

I've yet to see any of the boats out on the reservoir, that day it was too windy due to Storm Desmond!

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is a sailing club house on the right.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Steps below the sailing club, and somewhere for members to climb into their boats (but not in this weather of course).

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was a lot of yachts on dry land.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

From Genners Lane there was an open gate, and I could see some of the boats nearby.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Dec 2015) (20).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bartley Reservoir, March 2021

More than 5 years later, back to Bartley Reservoir, but by car this time. We went around Scotland Lane, and parked just beyond King Edward VI Five Ways School. Then walked along the road towards the Picnic Area. Where there would be some nice views of the reservoir.

dndimg alt="Bartley Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bartley Res (Mar 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A sign warning fly tippers. Sadly I saw a lot of rubbish and fly tipping alongside Scotland Lane at this point, even with CCTV camera's they are still doing it!

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First view of Bartley Reservoir from near the picnic area.

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There would be a path to head down in a short while.

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Block of flats seen on the other side of the reservoir. The retaining wall (dam) and small tower seen to the far left.

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There was a fence at the bottom of the field near the picnic area.

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Zooming into some buoys, with gulls in the distance, they weren't close to the banks of the reservoir, just in the middle.

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The general direction to Frankley Reservoir. At least one of the roads in this area was having roadworks, but you can't get to close to Frankley Reservoir on foot.

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This tree at the picnic area, had things taped to it, some memorial to someone who passed away?

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A zoom in to the small tower at the retaining wall (dam).

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Leaving the picnic area behind, we walked back up Scotland Lane, how heading towards Senneleys Park. Saw this view between the trees.

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From Scotland Lane, went down Field Lane, and got to Genners Lane. Went past King Edward VI Five Ways School and Newman University. Got to Bartley Sailing Club when I saw this boat with fangs on it!

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A quick look at Bartley Reservoir from Genners Lane near the retaining wall (dam). Before heading up Cromwell Lane towards Senneleys Park.

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It hasn't changed much in more than 5 years, other than the water was much calmer.

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Still fences around the north west corner of the reservoir close to the retaining wall.

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Areas for launching yachts and boats close to Bartley Sailing Club.

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One last look at the retaining wall and Genners Lane, before walking up Cromwell Lane towards Senneleys Park.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown