Moseley Bog, Birmingham - A hidden Gem!

Moseley Bog is situated in Moseley, Birmingham near the Wake Green Road. The main entrance is on Yardley Wood Road, and it includes Joy's Wood. Which is a local nature reserve.


Moseley Bog is located close to Wake Green Road. The main entrance is on Yardley Wood Road.

Moseley Bog

Entrance Gateway from Yardley Wood Road at Moseley Bog (December 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

You can also get in from Pensby Close off Thirlmere Drive (if heading from Sarehole Mill on the Wake Green Road). To the north is a playing field that is Windermere Park. Entrance to that via Windermere Road.

Moseley Bog

The walk down Wake Green Road to Moseley Bog via Thirlmere Drive and Pensby Close (April 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It is on the site of an old millpond and is made up of both wet and dry woodland together with patches of fen vegetation.

Moseley Bog

Algae in the bog at Moseley Bog (September 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown


 

History of Moseley Bog

Moseley Bog is a local nature reserve located in the Moseley area of Birmingham. It was formerly called The Dell. There are burnt mounds that run alongside the Coldbath Brook that flows through the Bog, dating to the Bronze Age, and they are Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The bog was once a secondary reservoir to feed the water to Sarehole Mill. The Coldbath Brook flows from Coldbath Pool through a culvert. The western half of the Bog was used as a landfill by Birmingham City Council from the 1930s to the 1960s. This was levelled off and became a playing field for the nearby Moseley Grammar School.

Windermere Park

Windermere Park playing fields at Moseley Bog (April 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown


From the 1980s the Bog was allowed to revert to natural woodland. The whole site was declared a nature reserve in 1991 by Birmingham City Council. It was renamed to Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood in 2000 in recognition of the work of Joy Fifer to protect the site. The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country now leases Moseley Bog from Birmingham City Council. In 2006 a public consultation on proposals to enhance access around the Bog took place. The Council got a lottery grant in 2010 and by the summer of 2011, the Bog was reopened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham. It now has wooden decking to walk around the bog safely. J. R. R. Tolkien lived nearby as a child, and acknowledged the site as inspiration for the ancient forests in his books The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Moseley Bog

Steps up to the decking around Moseley Bog, it's easy to get lost! (September 2016). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Winter at Moseley Bog

Moseley Bog

Decking at Moseley Bog (December 2012). Photography by Elliott Brown

Spring at Moseley Bog

Moseley Bog

Decking and lush green trees at Moseley Bog (April 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Summer at Moseley Bog

Moseley Bog

Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog (August 2018). Photography by Peter Leadbetter

 

Autumn at Moseley Bog

Moseley Bog

Leaves on the ground at Moseley Bog (November 2018). Photography by Peter Leadbetter

Project dates

19 Jun 2019 - On-going

Passions

Photography, Environment & green action, Green open spaces

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Environment & green action
30 Mar 2021 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog, named in honour of the late Joy Fifer MBE

Post image

On my one weekend walk during this third lockdown, I walked towards Moseley Bog, via Swanshurst Lane in Moseley. I got into Joy's Wood at the gate on Yardley Wood Road. It is a nature reserve that was formerly a tip. Named after local environmentalist Joy Fifer MBE, who campaigned between 1980 and 2002, to preseve the wood from building development. Sadly she died in 2003 aged 64.

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Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog, named in honour of the late Joy Fifer MBE





On my one weekend walk during this third lockdown, I walked towards Moseley Bog, via Swanshurst Lane in Moseley. I got into Joy's Wood at the gate on Yardley Wood Road. It is a nature reserve that was formerly a tip. Named after local environmentalist Joy Fifer MBE, who campaigned between 1980 and 2002, to preseve the wood from building development. Sadly she died in 2003 aged 64.


Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog

There is a couple of gated entrances for pedestrians from Yardley Wood Road in Moseley. This leads to Joy's Wood, which in turn leads onto Moseley Bog.

 

The Wood named after the late Joy Fifer MBE

The wood is now a nature reserve and was named after the late local environmentalist campaigner Joy Fifer MBE (which she received at the end of the year 2000 in the New Year's Honours List, then aged 61). Until the 1980s the land was a tip (or landfill).

Joy first became involved in Moseley Bog around 1980, when she heard that planning consent had been given for building on the land at the time. She and other volunteers were concerned about the wildlife here that might be affected. With them she co-founded the Moseley Bog Management Trust. Their first goal was to convince the council to buy the land on which the Bog was situated, and making sure that nothing was built on the site. After six years the goal was reached. She first got diagnosed with her illness in 1985. But continued to campaign until 2002.

One project involved preserving a bronze-age site which had been found in the rural woodland. Also the link to J. R. R. Tolkien as a child when he lived nearby on Wake Green Road. In the early 2000s they hoped to set up a Tolkien Centre (I don't think that happened, possibly due to the Tolkien Estate rights holders refusing permission). Sadly Joy died of her illness around 2003 (aged 63 or 64).

You can find an archived interview with Joy Fifer here: Your Honour: It's in her nature to keep campaigning; Joy Fifer MBE talks to Peter Rasmussen

 

As of 2021, there is a small bit of land near Moseley Bog being built on at Wake Green Road. This will be Extra Care flats. From Michael Blanning Housing Trust Association. The site has been behind hoardings for about 10 years (since the previous properties on that site were demolished). It would have been ideal to create a new entrance here to Moseley Bog, and a Visitor Centre, than yet another retirement village. A sign for the Wake Green Centre (from Birmingham City Council) is still visible from the roadside. At least one of the former properties looked like a Victorian townhouse, they were all demolished in 2015 (by the looks of Google Maps Street View).

 

Entering Joy's Wood from Yardley Wood Road

Back to my visit to Moseley Bog on Sunday 28th March 2021. I walked up Swanshurst Lane, with the aim of getting in the main entrance of Moseley Bog on Yardley Wood Road. But then saw this gate and entered Joy's Wood at this point.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Leaves have mostly not yet grown back on the trees, there is a dirt path leading into the wood.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Some daffodils line the dirt path alongside the trees.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Paths in two directions, I took the one leading close to the main Yardley Wood Road entrance of Moseley Bog.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

It was a little bit muddy down here, but wasn't slippy. Daffodils on the left.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Some of the daffodils seen growing to the left of the path.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

There is a large open field here, following the dirt track towards Moseley Bog.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The path leads to the main entrance of Moseley Bog at Yardley Wood Road.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

There is now a plaque erected in Autumn 2014 about Joy's Wood and the late Joy Fifer MBE. It was funded and erected by the Moseley Society, The Friends of Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood and the Saint Agnes (Moseley) Residents Association.

dndimg alt="Joy's Wood at Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Joys Wood Moseley Bog (Mar 2021) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

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

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Green open spaces
13 Jul 2020 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

From Moseley Bog towards Windermere Park

Post image

Back in April 2020, earlier in the lockdown, we had a walk around Moseley Bog. Starting from the Sarehole Mill Car Park via the Recreation Ground and Green Road ford. We entered the bog as usual from Pensby Close (off Wake Green Road). Around the usual decking. Ending up in Windermere Park, before the walk back down Wake Green Road to the starting point.

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From Moseley Bog towards Windermere Park





Back in April 2020, earlier in the lockdown, we had a walk around Moseley Bog. Starting from the Sarehole Mill Car Park via the Recreation Ground and Green Road ford. We entered the bog as usual from Pensby Close (off Wake Green Road). Around the usual decking. Ending up in Windermere Park, before the walk back down Wake Green Road to the starting point.


Moseley Bog

Welcome to my second post on Moseley Bog. Almost forgot about this one. Then saw a piece on BBC Midlands Today on the 8th July 2020, reminding me of the last walk around the Bog back in early April 2020. During the first few weeks of the lockdown.

You can find my original post on Moseley Bog here: Moseley Bog from my 2012 and 2016 visits.

I previously posted some of my April 2020 photos in this post here: J. R. R. Tolkien in Sarehole from 1896 - 1900.

 

Making our way to the Pensby Close entrance of Moseley Bog, the walk took us up the wooden decking amongst the woods of trees. Before ending up walking through the Windermere Park or Windermere Playing Field. Exiting at Windermere Road. Before walking back down Wake Green Road past Moseley School. The walk had started from the Sarehole Mill Car Park, then via the Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground. Crossing over the Green Road ford, then heading up Green Road to Wake Green Road. Was hoping to find a route to the Yardley Wood Road entrance / exit, but ended up finding the Windermere Park / Playing Field instead.

 

Entering Moseley Bog from Pensby Close, saw this stream. Possibly the Coldbath Brook that goes from Moseley Golf Club to Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading onto the decking for a safe walk around the Bog without getting your shoes muddy (hopefully).

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view of the stream (Coldbath Brook). Why would someone litter a can in it. It's not a bin! Dispose of your waste correctly, or take it home and bin it.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view of the Coldbath Brook.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The decking here is just three planks of wood bolted together on the ground.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Blue building behind the trees. It's Saint Bernard's Catholic Primary School on Wake Green Road.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

No decking here. Just a dirt path with exposed tree roots. And the odd stone brick above the ground.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back to cross over the decking. Wouldn't want to go into the bog there!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is what looks like exposed staples as you go around the decking. Hopefully to enable people walking over it to keep a grip and not fall into the bog!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another section of the wooden decking, with exposed stables on the surface.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Fallen trees around the bog and a body of water.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Onto another section of decking here.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This decking turns left at a right angle. Had some nice shadows in the sunshine.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the end of this decking.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A nice looking tree in the wood. The ground was all soil here. This leads up the hill to the Windermere Park.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look at the wood near the Windermere Park / Playing Field.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

First look at the Windermere Park or Playing Field. Saw that goalpost.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

And finally the walk through the Windermere Park (or Playing Field). Exiting onto Windermere Road. Would go past the Pickwick Cricket Club before going back onto the Wake Green Road.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (18).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

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