When you go down to the valley… you’re in for a big adventure!

When you go down to the valley… you’re in for a big adventure!

Okay so it doesn’t rhyme very well (at all) but this is a fantastic time of year as the seasons are beginning to change and there is a great deal of things for you to see and do out on the reserve.

Starting from the intricate metal gates that are bursting with natural figures from a lapwing to bicycles, you are welcomed onto Sandwell Valley Nature reserve. Heading down the lane that comes off of Tanhouse Avenue you may fancy popping into our temporary visitor centre to collect a map and pick the brains of the lovely Ann and Anna, a couple of our hardworking volunteers that are on hand to answer your queries. Moving onwards down the road you’ll be surrounded by a wealth of nature’s bounty. With fruits ripening left, right and centre, the wildlife at Sandwell has a good crop of food to prepare them for the cold winter months ahead. Keep your eyes open and you may even spot a variety of small birds and squirrels feeding on the fruits. Going over the railway bridge be sure to have a look at the lights on the tracks, if it’s green you may be able to watch a train wiz by in the next few moments, an exciting moment for some young and even old visitors. A little further on over the bridge you’ll see Taragon’s (the horse) field and if you’re really lucky, sometimes you can get a glimpse of sharp pointy ears sticking out of the grass belonging to the fox family that live alongside the railway.

Kingfisher by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.org.uk)

Once you get onto the foot path on the left of the road you’ll have the opportunity to wander down a path on the left leading towards the River Tame. This will take you to Kingfisher Corner, with a bench allowing you to stop and watch the river go by, you may be in with the chance of spotting a glimpse of an elusive Kingfisher. Aptly named as they are the fishermen of our rivers, you may just see a fleeting shot of electric blue, in my opinion one of the most rewarding sights available on our reserve. Looking almost too big for its petite body, the kingfisher’s beak is sharp and sword-like, perfect for catching small fishes. The reward comes in the bounty of colour this fisherman boasts, contrasting with electric blue and sunset orange they are hard to miss as they fly by.

Have you got a good tale to tell? Whether you have or haven’t Storytelling Corner is a great place to gather the kids and play some games. With the autumnal leaves still on the trees this spot is part of the woodland, found by continuing along the path from kingfisher corner and going upwards away from the river. Made up of a ring of tree stumps, this area is perfect for storytelling and often used by our field teachers. (It’s also a good spot to shelter from a rainy spell).

Anyway, that’s enough of me blabbering; I’ll continue this tour later on and let you explore the valley to find the spot that is special to you. 

Jazz