Wildlife Explorer
Credit: Apodemus sylvaticus bosmuis, Rasbak
The landscape of Birmingham and the Black Country has a rich social, economic and natural heritage shaped by a complex history of rural, industrial, and more recent suburban and commercial land use. The wildlife is as varied and valuable as that of any other part of the United Kingdom.
The rare and the special are here, from scarce mammals like water voles and polecats to dragonflies and kingfishers, plus a huge variety of plant life, as documented in the trailblazing book ‘Flora of Birmingham and the Black Country’. Adding spice to this is an astounding mix of species reflecting the many peoples and trades that have come here from around the world – for example plants grown from Argentinian seeds, and African parakeets.
Rocky reefs
The nooks and crannies of rocky reefs are swimming with wildlife, from tiny fish to colourful anemones. When shoreline rocks are exposed…
European badger
Badgers are the UK’s largest land predator and are one of the most well-known British species. They are famed for their black and white…
Brown hare
The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. It…
Skylark
The song of the skylark has been the subject of many great musical and literary works. A quintessential feature of our farmland and…
Woodland
Stepping inside a wood is like stepping outside of time. To walk amongst trees is to be part of the landscape. You can let the rich…
Orchard
A visit to a traditional orchard reveals gnarled old trunks of fruit and nut trees bursting with blossoms and young leaves in springtime…