The transformation of Deer’s Leap Wood is being realised and this historic site will once again be a tranquil place for local people to enjoy
Before becoming one of our nature reserves in 2014, this urban site suffered years of neglect and fly tipping making it inaccessible and unsafe for local people.
Since then the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Blacvk Country have carried out a huge amount of work to improve the site in order to be able to make it an open access nature reserve, which all local people can enjoy.
Work to remove unsafe Lombardy poplar trees was completed in 2015. After that, a massive project has been carried out to de-silt and clear the Boundary Brook of fly-tipped litter.
The brook was in a terrible state with polluted, unhealthy water and full of silt and rubbish, which had led to the area frequently becoming flooded with foul-smelling water.
In October 2015 volunteers from Severn Trent Water started the project by removing rubbish and some silt, and in February 2015 heavy machinery was brought to complete the de-silting.
We also created a more natural watercourse by adding pebbles and stones to the stream bed. Native plants have also been planted to create a more attractive and wildlife-rich habitat.
The Trust are also training up local residents to monitor the water quality to track how the pollution levels improve and are also working on a project with a local school to encourage children to think about the importance of water to all our lives.
Further projects are planned to improve access to the reserve in order that the trust can open up this urban wildlife oasis for everyone to enjoy.
The Boundary Brook improvement project is being undertaken by the Wildlife Trust and is funded by the Environment Agency with support from Severn Trent Water, The Deer’s Leap Residents Association, The Friends of Deer’s Leap Wood and Birmingham City Council.