Volunteer with us at Moseley Bog

Frequently asked questions and answers about our Moseley Bog nature reserve.

Restoring the Fen at Moseley Bog & Joy's Wood

saved from development following a huge public campaign, the site became a nature reserve and supports a tremendous range of plants, animals and insects. Especially fascinating are the gnarled old trees and the fantastic displays of bluebells each spring.
Moseley Bog was the childhood playground of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. He stated that the site inspired the 'old forest' in his books. People come from all over the world to discover his inspiration for themselves.
The site also has great archaeological interest, having two burnt mounds, as well as more recent remains such as the old mill dam and the foundations of Victorian greenhouses.

Saved from development following a huge public campaign, the site became a nature reserve and supports a tremendous range of plants, animals and insects. Especially fascinating are the gnarled old trees and the fantastic displays of bluebells each spring.
Moseley Bog was the childhood playground of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. He stated that the site inspired the 'old forest' in his books. People come from all over the world to discover his inspiration for themselves.
The site also has great archaeological interest, having two burnt mounds, as well as more recent remains such as the old mill dam and the foundations of Victorian greenhouses.

As part of our range of learning resources we have produced a pod-cast tour, which excitingly, the acclaimed Birmingham born poet and author Benjamin Zephaniah has recorded for us. The podcasts are available to download and playback on any compatible device. They provide an interesting insight into the history, preservation & development of Moseley Bog & Joys Wood. We hope you enjoy them.

In 2010 The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country were awarded £376,500 (69% of total project costs of £545,650) by The Heritage Lottery Fund with additional funding from Natural England, Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council and St Modwen. This money was secured in order to carry out works such as hedgerow restoration, meadow management, and tree safety, as well as improvements to boardwalks, steps, pathways, and signage around the site.

The Friends of Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood Nature Reserve has built on the success of previous groups and years of volunteering and campaigning. It was community action that saved the reserve from the developers, and was one of the catalysts for the formation of the Urban Wildlife Group, which became The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.
The Friends are now one of the Trust's local groups. You are welcome to attend our Annual General Meeting held each May at Sarehole Mill. In the meantime, if you'd like to join the Friends group, or find out more about them, please contact mosbogfriends@gmail.com.