Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve
Until the start of the 20th century, Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reservehad been a mix of farmland and factories. Following the Industrial Revolution industry had flourished on site due to the abundant coal and iron ore deposits. This industrial activity had ceased by 1904, when Wednesbury Hospital Board bought the site as the recreation grounds for the convalescing patients from Moxley Hospital. To improve the site numerous trees were planted including False acacias and sycamores.
As the incidence of isolation diseases such as cholera and smallpox declined, the Hospital made less use of the woodland and it became largely abandoned. In the early 1980s work started to both conserve Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reservefor wildlife and improve access for visitors. However, in 1989 the pools, which formed a large part of the site, began to loose water and drain. Long Meadow Pool dried up completely and Moorcroft Pool fell 3m below its current level. This was possibly due to nearby industrial activity. During 1998, the water began to return and by 1999 the all pools had risen to their former levels.
Moxley Hospital closed in 1995 and the hospital site was sold for housing. As a part of the sale, ownership of the wood was transferred from the West Midlands Health Authority to Walsall Council. The wood has also been declared a Local Nature Reserve, giving extra legal protection to ensure its future for wildlife and for people.
Industry at Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve
The industrial history of Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reservehas been shaped by the presence of coal seams close to the surface. The coal measures at Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reservecontain contain iron ores overlain by beds of sand and clay.
Coal mining is thought to have occurred during Roman times, when shallow mines were dug to extract surface coal. This small-scale mining continued for many years until the Industrial Revolution.
The coal and iron ore were both mined extensively in the 18th and 19th centuries. At the Moorcroft Iron Works the coal and iron ore deposits were combined with limestone from Walsall and Dudley to produce pig iron in blast furnaces. The only remaining evidence of the works are the clinker rocks around the edges of Moorcroft Pool.
On the north eastern edge of the site, Murby's Brick Works produced blue bricks from the clay overlaying the coal measures.
By the beginning of the 20th century all industrial activity at Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve Local Nature Reservehad ceased. The low quality iron ore had become uneconomic to extract due to the high proportion of impurities it contains. The coal seems although, over 9 metres ( 30 feet) thick, had become too expensive to mine due to flooding and geological faulting.
How to find Moorcroft Wood Local Nature Reserve
By car
There is no designated car park. If visiting by car, please park safely and courteously.
By bus
Bus numbers 78, 263 and 680.
Further details from the Centro Hotline 0121 200 2700