View source for Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Short description|Nature reserve in the United Kingdom}}
{{Infobox park
| name = RSPB Sandwell Valley
| photo = RSPB Reserve Gates 1.jpg
| photo_width = 
| photo_caption = Gate by [[Tim Tolkien]], featuring [[little ringed plover]], [[grey heron]] and other species.
| type = 
| location = [[Sandwell]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]]
| coords = {{coord|52.5331|N|1.9500|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} (Visitor Centre)
| area = 
| created = 
| operator = [[RSPB]]
| visitation_num = 
| status = 
| website = [https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/sandwell-valley rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/sandwell-valley]
}}

'''Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve''' ({{gbmapping|SP017913}}) is a [[nature reserve]], run by the [[RSPB]], in [[Sandwell Valley]], to the north of [[West Bromwich]], in the [[Sandwell]] borough of [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] in [[England]]. It is adjacent to, and shares its main lake with, [[Sandwell Valley Country Park]] and near the settlement of [[Hamstead, West Midlands|Hamstead]].

In March 2010 the visitor centre was destroyed in an arson attack.<ref name="Mail-Arson">{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2010/03/29/sandwell-valley-visitors-centre-gutted-by-fire-97319-26127887/|title=Sandwell Valley visitors' centre gutted by fire|last=Lloyd|first=Matt|date=2010-03-29|work=Birmingham Mail|accessdate=25 April 2010|archive-date=25 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925092319/http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2010/03/29/sandwell-valley-visitors-centre-gutted-by-fire-97319-26127887/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A new centre has replaced it.

==Location==
The reserve is located around the eastern and northern edges of the [[Forge Mill Lake]], a storm water [[retention basin]] within a meander of the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]]. The reserve is surrounded by the [[West Midlands conurbation]] and is close to the edges of [[Birmingham]] and [[Walsall]], as well as [[West Bromwich]]. It is close to the [[M5 motorway]], [[M6 motorway]] and the [[A34 road (England)|A34 road]].

There is a vehicle access to the study centre from Tanhouse Avenue. It can also be accessed via the network of paths crossing Sandwell Valley - with particular ease from the car park serving Forge Mill Farm, on Park Lane.

==Features==

The reserve is of particular importance for its [[education]]al work with visiting [[school]] parties.

A [[bird hide]], on stilts in the lake and reached by a drawbridge, allows close views of birds on the lake, its shores, and its islands - one of which has been situated directly in front of the hide. There are also a number of substantial screens, which are available at all times and afford good views of birds on the wetland areas surrounding the lake.

The site, formerly a landfill, has been carefully planted with a wide range of native trees and shrubs, to provide a rich and diverse habitat.

The reserve has a pair of entrance gates by the artist [[Tim Tolkien]]. The former visitor centre had a carpet designed for the reserve by the artist [[Greg Poole]], but this was lost in the 2010 fire.

==Species==

[[File:A Lane at Hamstead, Staffordshire.tiff|thumb|''A Lane at Hamstead, Staffordshire'' by William Ellis (1747-1810), now in the [[Garman Ryan Collection]] at [[The New Art Gallery Walsall]] shows the area in more rural times ]]

The lake and smaller pools are home to a wide range of water fowl and also play host to migrating birds. Among the species that attract [[birdwatchers]] to the hide are the [[goosander]], [[northern lapwing|lapwings]], [[common snipe]], [[little ringed plover]] and [[common whitethroat|whitethroat]].<ref name="Forbes">{{cite book|last1=Forbes|first1=Peter|last2=Hackett|first2=Peter|last3=Hextell|first3=Tim|title=Birds of the Sandwell Valley|year=2000|publisher=Sandwell Valley Naturalists' Club|isbn=978-0951153222}}</ref>

The growing [[bio-diversity]] of the slopes attracts a very large range of wildlife, and therefore a number of [[bird of prey|raptors]], including [[common buzzard|buzzards]].

Other birds that have been seen on the reserve include [[Cetti's warbler]], and a female [[smew]].<ref name="Forbes" /> [[common gull|Common]] and [[Mediterranean gull]]s are seen annually on the reserve.<ref name="Forbes" /> [[Black-tailed godwit]]s are seen every few years on the reserve.<ref name="Forbes" />

The main summer breeding birds seen on the reserve include [[common tern]], little ringed plover, [[Eurasian oystercatcher|oystercatcher]] and many more.<ref name="Forbes" /> Summer warblers seen on the reserve include [[sedge warbler]], [[reed warbler]], whitethroat, [[common chiffchaff|chiffchaff]], [[willow warbler]] and [[grasshopper warbler]].<ref name="Forbes" /> [[Eurasian coot|Coot]] are a common breeder on the reserve but are often less successful.<ref name="Forbes" />

Winter bird species seen include [[Eurasian wigeon|wigeon]], [[Eurasian teal|teal]], common snipe, [[jack snipe]], goosander, and [[goldeneye (duck)|goldeneye]].<ref name="Forbes" /> [[Water rail]] are seen more regularly in the winter<ref name="Forbes" /> with numbers going up to four individuals in 2013.

Some of the reserves star species are the lapwings that breed there annually, but again like the coot, they are less successful mainly due to predation. [[Ringed-necked parakeet]]s are regularly seen on the reserve.

==Gallery==
<gallery caption="Main features of the Sandwell Valley RSPB Nature Centre" widths="240" perrow="3">
Image:Sandwell RSPB visitor centre.png|View through the main window of the former visitor centre, which was equipped with telescopes for public use.
Image:Sandwell RSPB lakeside hide.png|The lakeside hide, which gives an excellent view of the lake, especially the central island, which is visited by a vast range of species.
Image:Tame Sandwell Forge Mill.JPG|Forge Mill Lake, which is fed by the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]]. The RSPB reserve is on the far side, and the bird hide is just visible, in the centre of the photograph.
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category|RSPB Sandwell Valley}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/westmidlands/sandwell/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104061013/http://www.westmidlandbirdclub.com/westmidlands/sandwell/ |archive-date=4 November 2013 |publisher=West Midland Bird Club |title=Sandwell Valley |url-status=unfit }} - includes image of the Greg Poole carpet

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandwell Valley}}
[[Category:Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves in England]]
[[Category:Nature reserves in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Tame catchment|R]]