Digging deep into the history of Barr Beacon nature reserve
Date Published : 22 February 2008
Walsall Countryside Services is currently digging deep into the history of Barr Beacon nature reserve as part of a grant funded project centred around the site.
A local researcher is being employed to search through archives and documents to unearth interesting gems of information about the valuable green space based in Barr Beacon, which will then be used to promote the site.
Members of the public are also being invited to contact the council with any information they might have about the history of Barr Beacon nature reserve and its features. It is hoped that information in the form of stories and experiences about the history of the site will be included in the research.
The work is part of a £24,000 grant project funded by the Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust (ICET), a landfill tax grant fund distributor, with Walsall Council’s countryside services working in partnership with The Rotary Club of Aldridge.
The grant project includes various improvement works on Barr Beacon nature reserve, including cleaning the War Memorial and replacing its panoramic disc, providing a new nature trail leaflet, installing additional bins and a picnic bench as well as habitat management work.
Councillor Andrew, the chair of The Barr Beacon Trust, said: “Despite the small size of Barr Beacon nature reserve, we have discovered an extremely rich and varied history of the site, which has left us fascinated. We would be delighted if anyone could contact us if they have any photos, memories, anecdotes or information about the history and features of Barr Beacon and the surrounding area that they would be happy for us to use in publications as part of the research project".
“You can write, email or call us with details of the information or photo you’d like to share and a contact number so that we can get in touch with you at a later date if we decide to include it in our research project. Although we can't guarantee to use everything we receive, it will all contribute to helping us build a bigger picture of the fascinating history of Barr Beacon”.
Barr Beacon – owned by The Barr Beacon Trust - is the highest point within the Walsall Borough, standing 228 m above sea level and lying 5km (3miles) east of Walsall town centre. The sandstone ridge site is a well known landmark and focal point throughout the West Midlands, providing fabulous views of the surrounding land.
Walsall countryside services have been managing Barr Beacon Nature Reserve since 1995 and aims to maintain and enhance the wildlife value of the 27 hectare (67 acre) site. The team maintains the care and creation of heath land, as well as managing the areas of scrub, broadleaf woodland, acidic grassland, gorse and bracken to form a matrix of heath land habitats with neutral grassland wildflower meadows.
If you have any information about any stories, memories or photos about the history of Barr Beacon you would like to share, please telephone, email or write to us.
Contact us
Diana West
Walsall Countryside Services
Top Hangar, The Airport,
Bosty Lane, Aldridge,
Walsall, WS9 0QQ.
Telephone 01922 459813
Email countrysideservices@walsall.gov.uk