Wild About Tamworth project
A partnership between Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Tamworth Borough Council and the communities of Tamworth to improve the Borough’s wild places to benefit both people and wildlife. Take a look at the trust's leaflet on Tamworth's wild spaces below for more information.
Exploring Tamworth’s Wild Spaces leaflet
Involving communities
The project has five active conservation volunteer groups, who each meet regularly to look after and improve green spaces in Tamworth:
Dosthill Park LNR
A popular 12-hectare park featuring a children’s play area, walk-ways and a Wind in the Willows sculpture trail. Since becoming an LNR in 2010, volunteers work hard to manage and improve large areas of valuable wildlife habitat within the park, including woodland, grassland, a network of ditches and watercourses, and a stretch of habitat along the River Tame. Dosthill Park Wildlife Group meets on the first Sunday of each month.
Dosthill Park LNR leaflet
Tameside LNR
Formed as an LNR in March 2006 with a man-made lake, Tameside is located on the Fazeley Road between Tamworth and Fazeley. The lake has four small islands that provide valuable meeting sites for bird life. Tameside Wildlife Conservation Group manages Tameside Nature Reserve and meets on the second Sunday of every month.
Tameside LNR leaflet
Hodge Lane LNR
The 4.55 hectare LNR is accessed from Chandler’s Drive, Amington. It is a great place to explore a range of woodland pathways, grassland areas, canal tow path and perfect picnic locations. Local volunteers meet on the second Sunday in the month to carry out management work
Hodge Lane LRN leaflet
Town Wall LNR
Located off the Hockley Road, Wilnecote and adjacent to a small playing field, this LNR is a great place for all the family to enjoy. There are a range of paths, trees and areas with piles of branches and deadwood to encourage children to build dens and play. The meadow and grassland area provide a lovely picnic area, surrounded by flowers and wildlife. There is currently no active group.
Town Hall LRN leaflet
Warwickshire Moor LNR
Situated off Moor Lane, Bolehall, this LNR developed through funding from the Central Rivers Initiative in 2006, has a series of pools, pathways, a boardwalk and bird boxes that families have built across the site; making this a brilliant place to see wildflowers and habitants including water dock, common reed and small mammals. The Friends of Warwickshire Moor meet on the third Sunday of every month.
Warwickshire Moor LNR Leaflet
Kettle Brook LNR
This LNR stretches from Glascote to Wilnecote and runs through Belgrave. There are various access points to the reserve including Lakeside from Jowett, off Leyland Road, Fossdale Road and at Belgrave by the dance studio on Bird’s Bush Road. There is a small group who manage Stonydelph Lakes regularly throughout the month, but the rest of the site has no active group currently.
Kettle Brook LNR leaflet
Broad Meadow LNR
This 25-hectare LNR is situated on the island between the two channels of the River Tame, off Lichfield Road near to the Moor Street traffic island. It is recognised as a site of biological importance, as it is a prime example of lowland meadow – a floodplain grassland habitat which is becoming increasingly rare in Staffordshire and across the UK. Broad Meadow is also one of only two sites in the county where the rare Snake’s Head Fritillary can be found growing wild. More details can be found here: www.tamworth.gov.uk/broad-meadow
Broad Meadow LNR leaflet
Wiggington Park
Home of Tamworth Rugby Club, this large park of more than 20 hectares, is also host to a Tree Trail, wildflower meadow, a community orchard and children’s play area. A popular place for families, walkers and sporting activities. There is also a Wiggington Park Tree Trail that you can follow around the park. See the bottom of the webpage for more information. There is currently no active group.

Events / volunteering
EVENTS: You can view our upcoming events on our website here https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/events
VOLUNTEERING: If you are interested in joining one of the volunteer groups please email tamworth@staffs-wildlife.org.uk. We can then assess, with the group leaders, upon a starting date for new volunteers.

Credit: Paul Harris/2020VISION
Wild about Tamworth also offers local schools and youth groups the chance to use local nature reserves as an educational tool to support their learning. Over a thousand children have received environmental education through the project in the last two years.
Tamworth Borough Council commission part of the project and the rest of the work is funded through external grants.

Installing an barn owl box
Protecting Tamworth's green spaces
Through Wild about Tamworth (WAT), seven valuable wildlife-rich sites have been designated as Local Nature Reserves, and the community conservation groups have made many improvements to make their green spaces better for both wildlife and people.
If you would like to explore Tamworth's wild spaces, why not take a look at the leaflet below:
Walking on the wild side - enjoying green spaces with your dog leaflet

Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Want to know more?
For further information on any aspect of the project, call the Wild about Tamworth officer 07970 067711 or email tamworth@staffs-wildlife.org.uk

Wigginton Park Tree Trail
The Wigginton Park Tree Trail leads you through the park to learn more about the 9 coniferous and broadleaved trees on the trail. You can download and print off at home a tree trail leaflet and and cover which are listed below. It is great fun to do with little ones.
Each tree has a post with an embossed leaf shape on top to create your own brass rubbing and then make your own book using the printed leaflet.

Local groups involved in the project:
1. Holm Oak - Stonydelph Community Café
2. Ash - Coton Green Primary School
3. Horse Chestnut - Birds Bush Primary School
4. Oak (Burnt Oak) - Flaxhill Primary School
5. Beech (Graffiti Tree) - Tamworth Rangers
6. Elm Avenue - Coton Green Pre-school
7. Scots Pine - Tamworth Guides
8. Giant Sequoia - Dosthill Rainbows and Brownies
Stories written, devised and developed by Mal Dewhirst and Christine Genders
Tree Trail cover pages
Tree Trail Inside pages
Each tree also has its own story, developed as part of the project with local community groups, as listed below. You can click on a story to download it!
Tree Trail stories
1. Poppyholly and the Christmas Tree
2. Tomax Dances
3. Chester Barky
4. Bok the Oakman
5. The Grafitti Tree
6. Woody Barker
7. Here be treasure
8. The day the storm came
The Maurice Arnold Legacy project (2023 -2026)
Maurice Arnold was a pivotal part of the Wild About Tamworth team. He was a local man who was a force for nature. He loved, lived and breathed it. His knowledge and understanding of wildlife was extensive and he loved to help others learn all about it.
Maurice dedicated many years to helping both SWT (even before Wild About Tamworth started) and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. When he sadly passed away, he opted to leave a very generous gift to both charities in his will. By pledging this legacy to the charities, his passion for nature is able to live on through our work.
The project will essentially allow us to continue the great work Maurice did himself. Enthusing and inspiring others to get involved in monitoring local wildlife. Working together with Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, we will deliver regular activities and training courses to increase people's wildlife knowledge. Maurice’s friends and peers will also offer learning experiences, walks, talks, sessions and resources. Together we can share with others the knowledge that Maurice shared with us. You can learn more about the project's launch in April 2023 here.

Maurice Arnold left a generous legacy to help SWT and Warwickshire WT continue to inspire learning about nature in the Tamworth area.
Maurice Arnold was passionate about wildlife and spent his time helping others learn all about it. Thanks to his generous gift, we will continue his work so many more people in Tamworth can connect with their local nature.