Swanshurst Park, Birmingham - A wonderful open space!

Swanshurst Park is situated in Moseley and Billesley, Birmingham. The council bought the fields in 1922 to lay out the park. They were from Ivyhouse Farm and Swanshurst Pool.


Swanshurst Park is in Moseley and Billesley in Birmingham.

Swanshurst Park

Towards the Moseley New Pool at Swanshurst Park (November 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Located around Swanshurst Lane, Yardley Wood Road and Brook Lane in Moseley and Billesley.

Swanshurst Park

Swanshurst Lane entrance path at Swanshurst Park (November 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The park has two large pools,and are both very good sites for waterfowl. This is called Moseley New Pool.

Moseley New Pool Swanshurst Park

Moseley New Pool at Swanshurst Park (March 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Most of Swanshurst Park is a natural heathland, making the park an important nature conservation habitat for the city.

Swanshurst Park nature reserve

Nature Reserve at Swanshurst Park (June 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Billesley Community Fire Station is on the Brook Lane and Yardley Wood Road corner.

Billesley Fire Station

Billesley Community Fire Station from Swanshurst Park (November 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

History of Swanshurst Park

The council bought the fields in 1922 to lay out the park. The land was used as common grazing land until the end of World War II. There used to be a 9-hole pitch and putt course in the park during the 1950s but it closed in the 1990s. Moseley New Pool has gone by many other names over the years, including Swanshurst Pool, Grove Pool, and Swanshurst Slade Pool. It was made in 1759 by Henry Giles as a fishing pond.

 

Winter at Swanshurst Park

Swanshurst Park

Snow and the frozen Moseley New Pool at Swanshurst Park (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Spring at Swanshurst Park

Swanshurst Park

Climbing back up the bank from the Nature Reserve in Swanshurst Park (April 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Summer at Swanshurst Park

Swanshurst Park

Fun Fair seen opposite Moseley New Pool from the 11C on Swanshurst Lane (June 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Autumn at Swanshurst Park

Swanshurst Park

Moseley New Pool in Swanshurst Park (November 2019). Photography by Karl Newton

 

Circuses and Fun Fairs at Swanshurst Park

Over the years there is always a circus at the park from Zippos Circus, usually taking place in the spring. While the fun fairs come along in the summer.

Zippos Circus

Zippos Circus at Swanshurst Park (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Giant Fun Fair Swanshurst Park

Giant Fun Fair at Swanshurst Park (July 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

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24 Jun 2019 - On-going

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History & heritage, Photography, Environment & green action
People & community, Rivers, lakes & canals, Green open spaces

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Green open spaces
30 Apr 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

The secret Nature Reserve at Swanshurst Park

Post image

I've been to many times to Swanshurst Park but the Nature Reserve area with all the trees, I've never been around before, at least not until lockdown. For an afternoon walk on the 27th April 2020, we went around the grass path, down the hill. And followed the stream. Over the plank bridges then checking out the logs over the mud near the bulrushes.

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The secret Nature Reserve at Swanshurst Park





I've been to many times to Swanshurst Park but the Nature Reserve area with all the trees, I've never been around before, at least not until lockdown. For an afternoon walk on the 27th April 2020, we went around the grass path, down the hill. And followed the stream. Over the plank bridges then checking out the logs over the mud near the bulrushes.


Apparently there used to be a pitch & putt golf course down here, where all the trees are now. We headed down the hill (leaving the main path near the Moseley New Pool) and hopped over the stream.

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Walking along the shallow stream, saw these in the long grass.  Large bittercress.

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Over one of the wooden planks and towards the logged path.

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Fallen tree branches over the stream. Quite muddy here.

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Trying to be careful not to fall over here, some of the logs were quite loose.

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One more wooden plank to cross the mucky stream. More logs before they ran out.

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Beyond the logs were some bulrushes on the far right.

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Zooming in to one of the bulrushes was some long-tailed tits. Luckily they didn't fly away as I got the photo.

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It was way too muddy beyond here, didn't want to get my shoes and jeans mucky, so we turned back.

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Walking round the other grass paths, saw another path, that we didn't take.

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Appeared to be a lot of people getting their daily walks in here. You don't just have to walk around the tarmaced paths. Also the grass paths in the fields were quite dry. Been a dry month on lockdown.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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Green open spaces
31 Oct 2019 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Swanshurst Park through the seasons through the years

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Swanshurst Park is a park that I regularly return to and have been taking photos there for almost 10 years. Visited in different seasons. In the autumn or winter, spring or summer. Sometimes when a circus is on, or even a fun fair! Located on the border of Moseley and Billesley. The park is not in Kings Heath. On the World Famous no 11 Outer Circle bus route (also the 2 and 3).

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Swanshurst Park through the seasons through the years





Swanshurst Park is a park that I regularly return to and have been taking photos there for almost 10 years. Visited in different seasons. In the autumn or winter, spring or summer. Sometimes when a circus is on, or even a fun fair! Located on the border of Moseley and Billesley. The park is not in Kings Heath. On the World Famous no 11 Outer Circle bus route (also the 2 and 3).


Usually the first park that I pass on the 11C bus heading up Swanshurst Lane and up Yardley Wood Road, I have been around this park a lot. Swanshurst Park. Follow this link for my album on Flickr Swanshurst Park. Find the full gallery here Swanshurst Park gallery.

December 2009

It was Christmas Eve 2009 when I headed up to Swanshurst Park for the first time with a camera. The park was full of snow and looking quite "Christmasy". Was also freezing. A White Christmas indeed!

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The lake was frozen with a layer of snow on it.

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Was also quite misty, hard to see the trees in the distance.

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A lone swan with several Canada geese. They were able to get a swim in the freezing cold water.

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The corner of the Moseley New Pool. All iced over with a layer of snow on it.

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March 2011

This visit to the park on a wonderful sunny spring day was to see Zippos Circus on the other side of the Moseley New Pool. They seem to return to the park every year. A pair of Canada geese on the south bank of the pool.

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Looking towards Zippos Circus. See my circuses in Birmingham post here Circuses in Birmingham.

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Daffodils, a sight you usually see in March or April. Some years in February.

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Up the path towards Swanshurst Lane.

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The path leads to the Moseley New Pool. The circus seen in the distance.

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March 2012

On a hot March afternoon in Swanshurst Park. The field near Brook Lane in Billesley. With this park, you can also do walks to the nearby Shire Country Park in Hall Green and Yardley Wood.

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The playground is access from Yardley Wood Road. There is also a car park on that side.

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Plenty of trees up here. In recent years the council has had to protect the park from travellers, who seem to set up a camp on the park near here.

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This was during May 2013, passing on the 11C bus on the Yardley Wood Road in Billesley. On the right is the Billesley Community Fire Station. That graffiti mural has long since gone, since someone sprayed graffiti on top of it!

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Now June 2014, and Bob Wilson's Fun Fair was on in the park. Again seen from the passing 11C bus on the Yardley Wood Road in Billesley.

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November 2015

It's now autumn, and there was a canopy of brown leaves on the ground near the Swanshurst Lane entrance of the park. Days after Halloween, and the day before Bonfire Night.

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The path down from Swanshurst Lane to Moseley New Pool. Looking quite autumnal.

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You always see Canada geese at this end of the park. Yellow and brown colours all over.

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Gulls in the Moseley New Pool. The colours of autumn were everywhere.

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The corner of the pool close to Swanshurst Lane.

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December 2017

After the snow had melted. Leaves on the lawn near Yardley Wood Road. Trees line the park, and the Moseley New Pool in the distance.

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Canada geese and swans in the Moseley New Pool.

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The middle of December 2017, and saw the gulls flying about above the Moseley New Pool with the Canada geese below.

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Is quite the sight to see! There are signs around the park advising people to not feed bread to the birds, yet they still do it any way.

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The playground seen on a Christmas Day 2017 walk. No buses run on this day (they never do).

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In July 2018 during a summer heatwave. All throughout the UK, the green grass had gone yellow, and it was the same here at Swanshurst Park. This view from Brook Lane in Billesley.

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It is now December 2018 and after getting off the no 2 bus on Yardley Wood Road, I walked down Swanshurst Lane as it was getting dark. (Had to change buses from the 5 in Sparkbrook). Still leaves on the lawn, and the park seems different after the sun has gone down.

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February 2019

The end of winter with signs that spring was upon us. A man fishing in a tent near the Moseley New Pool. Was a sunny day. Headed along the path from the Yardley Wood Road to Swanshurst Lane.

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Purple and white crocuses. A sign that it was almost spring. But was only the middle of February!

dndimg alt="Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Swanshurst Park (Feb 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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