Phase 2 Projects

Coseley Canal Project
Canal & River Trust is the charity that owns and looks after the canal network. The Trust is working closely with Coseley East Big Local and Sustrans to deliver improvements to wildlife habitat and accessibility along the New Mainline Canal from Biddings Lane Bridge to Tipton. Plans include woodland management, wildflower planting, creation of an orchard and improvements to make access for cyclists and pedestrians easier and safer onto the towpath. 

Work is planned to start in February / March.

Bridge Street Weir
A small and seemingly innocent feature, a weir, a remnant of the forge that once stood on the banks of the River Stour. Although the forge has long since disappeared from the landscape, the weir has remained within the river, un-noticed, acting as a barrier to fish migration. Its presence not only impacts fish but all aquatic species. 

Black Country Blue Network 2 funding has allowed the Severn Rivers Trust to oversee a contractor in the notching of this barrier. This allows all species that live within the river to move freely once more. Removing the impoundment has also allowed riffles to flow across gravel in this stretch of the River Stour.

Cradley Reedbed
The access improvements at Cradley have improved the whole site from every entrance. Decaying steps have been completely replaced with oak steps and a new handrail that is a welcome addition. The biggest improvement however is a new section of path, as well as re-exposing an extensive area of old footpath which shall allow access all year. 

Polluted water that previously flowed directly into the River Stour is now getting intercepted within a lined reedbed. The reedbed will not only filter out the pollution, but shall be a welcome diversification of habitat type along this key ecological corridor with the Black Country. Future work shall see habitat improvements across the wider River Stour valley.

Castle Hill
Work currently taking place includes environmental surveys and levelling of key footpaths and entrances to Castle Hill in Dudley town centre.

In 2022, improvements will be made to a key route through the site from Gervase Drive to the new Black Country Living Museum car park.

All entrances to Castle Hill will be visually improved and strengthened to prevent illegal access and fly-tipping will be cleared.

Work to fell diseased trees on Castle Hill will also take place in key areas to prevent accidental injury and protect visitors. To mitigate this loss of trees, we plan to plant a number of new native trees.

Holloway Street
Surveying work is currently being carried out on this site with planned works on the ground expected to commence in spring 2022.

The work will address issues with flooding and aims to create new small ponds and other measures to hold water on the site in certain areas to reduce the chance of flash flooding. These areas should improve the wildlife diversity and create new habitats.

Further work will improve main footpaths through the site, making the area more accessible at all times of the year. There will also be some clearance work to create more open areas that can be used for informal games and picnics.

Peggy’s Meadow
At the foot of Castle Hill, land referred to as ‘Peggy’s Meadow’ will be returned to its historical use.

Improvements will include the maintenance of overgrown areas and new fencing.

There is a long-term aspiration to graze animals on the land in partnership with Dudley Zoo and Castle.

Cannon Drive
There are exciting plans to improve the area known locally as ‘Teddy Bear Park’, the small open spaces off Cannon Drive and Anvil Crescent in Coseley.

The smaller open space which borders the canal will have a number of trees planted with the intention to have a small woodland copse.

The larger area will have native bulb planting such as snowdrops and wild daffodils.

There will also be wildflower planting and further improvements to the planting on the perimeter of the site.

Sedgley Beacon
Surveying work is currently taking place on grazing land on an area of this site near to the Wolverhampton Road.

The long term aspiration is to create a footpath from Wolverhampton Road along the grazing land towards the hill top.

New small ponds will and hollows will also be created to utilise water running down the hill and relieve pressure on the brook. It is intended that these wetland areas will increase biodiversity and the ecological value of this part of the site.

In a further phase woodland areas will be improved and existing rare plants will have their seeds collected and resown in other parts of the site.

Turls Hill
Plans are to bring the existing grazing land on Turls Hill in Sedgley back in to use. Works will include agricultural fencing and new hedgerows.

The land will be low intensely grazed to encourage traditional meadow plants to re-establish.

Turls Hill Road will have areas of invasive species treated and the long term aspiration is for hedging to be laid and the improvement of signage and waymarking.

Ward Street Railway Cutting
Work has commenced to develop the former railway cutting into an attractive and wildlife-friendly green space for local people to enjoy. Considerable ground levelling and grading work has been taking place in preparation for the improvements. Some vegetation clearance has been undertaken to open up the Ward Street entrance and improve safety and security for both the general public and school children accessing the Bilston C of E School. Baseworks have commenced to create a new all-weather path which will provide access along the full length of the site. Once the grading and preparation works have been completed the site will be planted up with a flowing blend of wildflower meadows, mown grass, young trees, wooded areas and seasonal bulbs. Entrance control barriers and fencing will be installed where necessary and seating will be provided for the comfort of visitors.

Pendeford Park
Work has started to improve the attractiveness and wildlife value of Pendeford Park. Some grassland cultivation has been taking place in preparation for the creation of attractive wildflower meadows. Over the coming months, work will start to renovate the paths alongside the canal for the benefit of walkers and cyclists. Native woodland planting, hedge planting and woodland management will also be taking place and street furniture will be replaced for the comfort of visitors. Some vegetation clearance is also taking place to selectively remove invasive species which are becoming over dominant and growing into the path alongside the canal. Plenty of cover will of course be retained for wildlife such as nesting birds.

Fowlers Park
Work has started to renovate the pond in Fowlers Park as part of a programme of major improvements in the park. The pond has been drained with fish safely removed prior to an ongoing major operation to remove a considerable amount of silt from its base. The aim of the renovations is to develop a healthier, wildlife-friendly and more attractive pond. Other improvements planned for the park over the coming months include woodland management, hedgerow planting, meadow creation and access improvements.

Parks and local nature reserves
Walsall’s Parks and Local Nature Reserves will improve 16.85 hectares at several sites that are connected by greenways, canal network and public rights of way including Victoria Park, Kingshill Park, George Rose Park, Moorcroft Wood and the Walsall Canal in Darlaston.

Improvements will include: 

• Woodland management will diversify the woodland structure – age classes, species diversity and ground flora enhancement; and will mitigate against ash dieback;
• Creating wildflower meadows through more sustainable and diverse grassland management regime in parks and greenways; 
• Increase cover of linear habitat features through planting avenues of tress, to benefit local bat and bird population;
• Increase area and season of nectar sources by tree and hedge planting and wildflower meadow creation. 

It will also improve the knowledge and understanding of the natural environment by introducing new management techniques and by providing interpretation to explain to site users the work being undertaken, providing new facilities for use as resource for education and promoting usage through sign-posting, upgrading access routes and installing a pond dipping platform.

Improvements have already commenced at Moorcroft Wood with a woodland block pre-clearance of the understorey and seeding taking place. Progress has also begun at several other sites including George Rose Park and Victoria Park. All works on Walsall sites are due to take place throughout 2022 with completion by Q2 2023.