The Kingfisher Country Park was declared in 2004 and was a project between Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolian Borough Council.

It starts in the west from Yardley, and heads north towards Hodge Hill, then east towards Shard End. It crosses the Birmingham / Solihull border into Kingshurst near Babbs Mill Lake. It ends in Chelmsley Wood. The River Cole flows through the entire country park.

East Birmingham

In Yardley, the Kingfisher Country Park consists of: Hay Barn Recreation Ground, Newbridge Farm, Sycamores Recreation Ground and Batchelors Farm.

In Hodge Hill it includes: Gumbleberrys Ponds, Fairground Site, Colebourne Meadow and Glebe Farm Recreation Ground.

In Shard End it includes: Cole Hall Farm, Brook Meadow and the Norman Chamberlain Local Nature Reserve.

Grey Heron spotted from the Cole Valley Route in Shard End. Photo by Elliott Brown

North Solihull

In Kingshurst it includes: Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve (which includes Babbs Mill Lake and Babbs Mill Jubilee Park) and York Wood Local Nature Reserve.

Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst, Solihull. Photo by Elliott Brown.

In Chelmsley Wood it includes: Meriden Park and Cole Bank Park Local Nature Reserve.