West Midlands National Nature Reserves
Updated 23 October 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/west-midlands-national-nature-reserves/west-midlands-national-nature-reserves
Saltwells
Saltwells National Nature Reserve is one of the most notable geological locations in the British Isles.
The site shows 2 distinctly different periods of earth history, when very different conditions were present.
The first and oldest rocks of the Silurian period contain evidence of the change from ancient seabed to dry land. The second series of layers show how this land was covered by huge swampy forests with trees growing up to 45m in height that created the coal seams of the Carboniferous age.
Main habitats: geological
Management: Saltwells is an urban geological site managed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, alongside Wren’s Nest geological NNR and the Canal and River Trust.
Features of interest
Further information about the NNR, its geology and wildlife and how to visit, can be found on Dudley Council’s Saltwells NNR webpage.
Contact
Saltwells National Nature Reserve
Directorate of the Urban Environment
c/o Lister Road Depot
Lister Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY2 8JW
Telephone: 01384 812785
Sutton Park
A former medieval deer park given to Sutton Coldfield by Henry VIII in 1528, Sutton Park includes a range of habitats for a rich variety of plants and wildlife, some rarely seen in the region.
Main habitats: lowland heath, woodlands, wetlands
Management: Sutton Park is owned and managed by Birmingham City Council.
Features of interest
Further information about the NNR, its wildlife and how to visit can be found on Birmingham City Council’s Sutton Park NNR web page.
Contact
Birmingham City Council
Tel: 0121 4648728 or email: contact@birmingham.gov.uk
Wren’s Nest
Wren’s Nest is one of Britain’s foremost geological National Nature Reserves. It is famous for its spectacular outcrops of limestone and its abundant fossils.
Main habitats: geological
Management: Wren’s Nest is an urban geological site managed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Features of interest
Further information about the NNR, its wildlife and how to visit can be found on Dudley Council’s Wren’s Nest NNR web page.
Contact
The Wardens, Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve
Directorate of the Urban Environment
c/o Lister Road Depot
Lister Road
Dudley
West Midlands
DY2 8JW
Telephone 01384 812785