The Lickey Hills

19 October 2007

Just a few miles north of Bromsgrove town centre lies one of the oldest beauty spots in Birmingham - The Lickey Hills Country Park.

With over 500,000 visitors a year, the Lickey Hills Country Park remains one of the most picturesque parks in the local area since its official designation in 1971. However, tourists and local inhabitants have been visiting the park for longer than you realise.

Not surprisingly, the Lickey Hills have a great deal of history to tell. With first signs of settlers dating all the way back to the Stone Age were noted after a Neolithic arrow- head was found near Rednal Hill and a flint-scraping tool discovered near the monument.

The Romans were next to put down their roots on the Lickeys. Jo Hayden, park manager said: “The main road running through the Lickey Hills was constructed by Romans thousands of years ago. They would use this route to transport goods such as salt to surrounding towns.”

However, after an invasion by the Normans, the Lickeys were later set aside as a royal hunting ground for the Royal Manor of Bromsgrove. Deer and rabbits were introduced to the area and large ‘warren’ enclosures were created. Many of the road names within the Lickey Hills were decided around this era.

In 1682 the Royal Manor was sold to the Earl of Plymouth. Although he resided in Tardebigge, his family owned the land and managed the population for the following 250 years.

Further developments were carried out in the area during the Victorian ages, including the construction of a railway, a church and a school. It was also around this time that much of the land was sold off for domestic housing.

In 1888, the Birmingham Society for the Preservation of Open Spaces purchased Rednal Hill. Later, in 1920, the society also purchased Cofton Hill, Lickey Warren and Pinfield Wood and free access was once again restored to the hills.

Today, the Lickey Hills are home to a host of plants, trees and wildlife. Jo added: “There are over 380 flowering plants within the park, including 17 types of ferns and 30 types of mosses. We have a range of woodland species including creepy-crawlies such as beetles, centipedes, slugs and bugs. Together with flies, bees and butterflies, they provide the staple diet for the larger wildlife within the hills.”

An astonishing ninety types of birds have also been recorded within the park. These include the robin, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit and wood pigeon. With warblers and tree pipits visiting during the summer and fieldfair and redwing during the winter.

The damp woodland ground is surprisingly home to a variety of reptiles, which include grass snakes, adders and the common lizard. Luckily, for those visitors just looking for a relaxing stroll, these sightings really are very uncommon!

The most frequently seen wildlife would certainly be the grey squirrels throughout the woods and rabbits over the hills, especially during summer evenings.

Not only home to an array of wildlife and flora, the Lickey Hills have proudly won the Green Flag Award for seven consecutive years. Jo explained: “The Green Flag Award is a national scheme which started back in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. They are looking for a certain standard of quality management within the park, cleanliness, use by the community and so on. There are a total of 27 criteria to pass in order to win the award.”

If walking is not your idea of a leisurely day, do not despair! Set within the hills you will find one of the most picturesque golf courses in the Midlands. Professional golfer Mark Poomes said: “We are a municipal golf course, so there are no membership costs, we also hire golf clubs out to beginners on site. Comprising 18 holes, a par of 69 and beautiful views all year round the course is a golfing paradise!”

The Lickey Hills Country Park really does have something for the whole family. With an astonishing history, an abundance of wildlife and a variety of walks to follow, why not visit this weekend?
For more information on walks and events call the Lickey Hills Country Park on 0121 447 7107.

For more information about the Lickey Hills visit www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk

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