The settlement at Hill Hook was probably established between 1530 and 1580. The 17th century date for the establishment of the mill at Hill Hook makes it a relative latecomer to the area. The stream was dammed to form the mill pool, this was necessary as the water supply was poor so near to the source. A lower position downstream would have guaranteed a better supply, but this would have taken it outside the control of Sutton Coldfield. The Hill Hook Mill was the most northerly of Sutton Coldfield mills. The over flow from the mill pool runs into the Footherley Brook which flows north to Shenstone and then east to the River Tame at Tamworth in Staffordshire

The Friends of Hill Hook LNR is a local group of The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and The Black Country. They help manage the reserve with support from Birmingham City Council.
Regular practical conservation days take place through the year and volunteers have undertaken tasks from woodland thinning, coppicing, and sycamore and scrub control to tree and hedgerow planting.

We own and look after nature reserves using evidence based methods to increase biodiversity and create wildlife havens.

Many bird species either breed or overwinter on the reserve. Of the waterfowl mallard, coot, moorhen, mute swan, pochard, goosander, great crested grebe, tufted duck, canada geese and greylag geese are regularly seen. Woodland birds include, amongst many, robin, blackbird, song thrush, wren, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, greater spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, nuthatch and tawny owl.
The regenerating woodland provides good habitat for whitethroat, chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap. Swallows, house martins, sand martins and swifts feed over the Mill Pool in the Summer and Winter visitors such as waxwings have been seen. Grey wagtails nest along the banks of the stream running from the Mill Pool.

The reserve boasts scarce plants, like the exotic Bee Orchid and the unusual hare's foot clover.
The reserve also boasts many important butterfly species, including one of the few colonies of Marbled White Butterflies in Birmingham and the Black Country. Portway Hill, which is part of the Rowley Hills, is one of our newest nature reserves. Just a few acres of grassland high on the Hills looking out over Sandwell, Birmingham and parts of Dudley

In partnership with Birmingham Parks Ranger Service, the Birmingham and Black Country Nature Improvement Area improved woodlands in Cannon Hill Park

Situated in the heart of Birmingham, along the River Rea corridor, Cannon Hill Park is made up of 80 acres of formal parkland and 120 acres of conservation area and woodland plantation

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.