Environment and countryside

In addition to the City’s formal parks, Wolverhampton City Council owns and manages a country park and two nature reserves.  These sites are managed primarily for the conservation of wildlife and to increase ‘biodiversity’ (the number and variety of living things in a given area).  However, reasonable public access to these sites is always encouraged in order to educate and inform our visitors about these special places.

Our nature conservation sites are not only a haven for wildlife, they provide a host of leisure opportunities for a wide range visitors and volunteers of all ages and from all backgrounds.  A visit to Northycote Farm Country Park, could include a walk around the animal paddocks to see the rare breeds followed by a snack in the tearooms; whilst Smestow Valley offers a range of flat, quiet and traffic-free walking routes, through a variety of natural habitats alongside the Staffs & Worcester canal, where lots of wildlife can be seen.

When visiting our sites, you will see that our on-site staff works on a variety of tasks; not limited to the physical management of the sites, they also work with volunteers, run events and guided walks and answer the many questions of visitors.

The work of volunteers (sometimes called ‘Friends’ or ‘User’ groups) is another valuable contribution to the activities that take place at our sites.  These enthusiastic and committed people perform a variety of roles during their spare time, from organising events to assisting with site maintenance activities; such as vegetation management and tree planting, amongst other things.

Whether it’s a gentle walk in the countryside, a quiet place to relax, a family event or an opportunity to get more actively involved, our nature conservation sites offer something for everyone.  For further information about the countryside on your doorstep, read on;