Moseley Bog - Frequently Asked Questions

Moseley Bog

Frequent asked Questions & Answers

Moseley Bog is a popular nature reserve in Birmingham which attracts a lot of visitors from nearby areas as well as further afield. The number of visitors to the reserve during 2020 was unprecedented as a result of many people visiting for their daily-exercise during the Covid-19 pandemic.   

Whilst we don’t want to dissuade visitors from enjoying Moseley Bog, increased visitor footfall does increase pressure on the reserve infrastructure and habitats, which we work had with our dedicated volunteers work to conserve. 

Whether you are a regular or first-time visitor to Moseley Bog, here is some information about the reserve which we hope you will find helpful.  Please help us in promoting responsible use of the reserve so that everyone can enjoy Moseley Bog, its wildlife and heritage.

Who is responsible for maintaining the reserve?

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country have a lease agreement with Birmingham City Council. The Wildlife Trust are responsible for the management of Moseley Bog & Joy’s Wood Nature in partnership with the Friends of Moseley Bog & Joy’s Wood.

How can I help maintain the reserve?

Moseley Bog has an existing established group of regular volunteers that attend our regular volunteer days that are held fortnightly on a Tuesday and alternate Wednesdays. There is currently high demand for volunteering at Moseley Bog.

The Friends of Moseley Bog & Joy’s Wood regularly recruit for new members to join the committee, for more information please contact the group directly by emailing mosbogfriends@gmail.com.

You can donate to Moseley Bog through Text to Give. 

To donate £2 text MOSBOG to 70085

To donate £5 text MOSBOG 5 TO 70085

To donate £10 text MOSBOG 10 to 70085

Texts cost your donation amount plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more and our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give a donation but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text MOSBOGNOINFO, MOSBOGNOINFO 5 or MOSBOGNOINFO 10 to 70085

Why aren’t there bins, particularly for dog waste around the reserve?

We don’t have the capacity or the resource to regularly empty bins and dispose of waste and we also believe that waste bins would distract from the natural beauty of the site. 

We would like to remind all visitors to dispose of their litter responsibly.  Our volunteers are not responsible for removing dog waste so please ‘bag it and bin it’. There is a general waste bin near the entrance to the reserve on Yardley Wood Road, which can be used for general litter and dog waste.

Our practical conservation volunteers regularly come into contact with dog waste when working in the undergrowth and litter picking;  this can result in tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) being contaminated and also more seriously increases the potential risk of Toxocariasis infections through contact with soil contaminated with dog waste.

Please note: It is an offence under The Fouling of Land by Dogs Order 2017 if a person fails to clear up after their dog fouling and if caught may be liable for a fixed term penalty of £100. 

There are no benches or seating areas, can these be installed?

There aren’t formal seating areas including benches at the reserve because unfortunately previous site infrastructure has been vandalised requiring regular maintenance and associated cost implications. However, where possible natural seating areas including fallen logs and stumps are left which can be used as resting places and these do not distract from the natural feel of the site.

Why can’t the large car park be opened for use by visitors?

There is a small car park at the entrance to the nature reserve which has space for 3 cars, primarily for use of visitors with limited mobility.  

The large parking area facility is available for our staff and volunteers when undertaking practical conservation activities and is also open to the general public when we deliver engagement events.

We understand that limited parking availability can be frustrating. However, we are unable to allow access to the large car parking area due to limited staffing and resources to keep it safe and prevent anti-social activities. Unfortunately, we experience periodic fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour in the small car park at the entrance to the reserve. For this reason, we consider it would be a risk to the reserve to permanently have both car parking areas open.

Alternative parking is available at Windermere Playing Fields car park, off Windermere Road. Please note the closing times of the car park on arrival.   

Please note: The grass verges along Yardley Wood Road are under a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) by Birmingham City Council. Parking on the grass verges is not permitted and you may receive a fine if caught parking on the grass verge outside of the reserve.

I’ve noticed a lot of rats around the reserve, why is this the case?

There have been regular sightings of rats around the reserve during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This may simply be because more visitors are using the site there have been more sightings – it is not clearif there has been an increase in the population of rats on site.  Rats are highly adaptable animals, and they may have been faced to change their behaviour as a result of high street venues being closed during the pandemic and taking opportunity of food scraps unintentionally left behind by visitors. 

Some visitors to the reserve enjoy leaving food for wild animals, including mammals and birds.  Whilst we appreciate that feeding birds is an enjoyable activity, and more compelling to do during the winter period, feeding wild animals can sometimes lead to poor health if unsuitable food items are left around the reserve, particularly rotten bread and vegetables. Accumulating food left by visitors can attract more rats and dogs may be tempted to eat food items left for wild animals.

We politely request that if visitors want to feed birds to use food specifically for the consumption by birds such as a wild bird seed mix and / or suet pellets and to leave it in small quantities so that food does not accumulate.     

I’m a cyclist, why are there cyclist dismount signs?

We recently displayed ‘cyclist dismount’ signs around the reserve particularly when entering areas of the site with boardwalks. The reason is twofold; firstly, we have received a number of complaints about cyclists riding at speed and sometimes in groups through the reserve, including on the boardwalk, and other areas with narrow paths. Secondly, the reserve infrastructure is becoming increasingly in need of repair through aging but may be accelerated with excessive use by cyclists.

It is appreciated that many cyclists are responsible, however, we do politely request that all cyclists dismount whilst on the boardwalk to enable all users to prevent damage to infrastructure and to enable other visitors a safe visit with allowances for social distancing.

When funding and resources permit, we aim to install bike stand so that cyclists can securely leave their bikes at the entrance of the site when visiting the reserve.  

Are BBQs and campfires permitted at Moseley Bog?

BBQs and campfires are NOT permitted in public open green spaces including Moseley Bog due to public safety and the protection of the habitats on site.

Can I hold a private event at Moseley Bog?

The reserve is a publically accessible site under the management of the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country who are therefore responsible for public liability. For this reason, we request that members of the public and third parties do not undertake planned activities without our prior consent.  Please send any enquiries to info@bbcwildlife.org.uk