Edgbaston Pool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Edgbaston Pool |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Edgbaston Pool
Location in West Midlands county
|
|
| Location | Birmingham, England |
| Coordinates | 52°27′17″N 1°55′16″W / 52.4548°N 1.9211°W |
| Surface area | 7 hectares (0.070 km2; 0.027 sq mi) |
Edgbaston Pool is a special place in Birmingham, England. It's like a nature reserve, officially called a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI). This means it's protected because of its important plants, animals, or geology. Edgbaston Pool is one of 23 such sites in the West Midlands area.
The site has two main parts. One part is all about water, with a 7-hectare lake and a stream called Chad Brook. Some areas around the lake can be marshy or covered by water, depending on the time of year. The other part is a smaller area of woodland. In total, the whole site is about 15.93 hectares big.
Contents
What is Edgbaston Pool?
Edgbaston Pool is also known as Edgbaston Park. It sits on top of sand and gravel left behind by ancient glaciers. Beneath these layers is a type of rock called sandstone, which formed a very long time ago.
Old maps from the 1700s show there used to be two ponds here. But over time, one of them naturally filled up with earth and plants. The main pool we see today was finished in 1790. It holds a lot of water, about 59,100 cubic meters!
The Dam and Nearby Places
On the south side of the main pool, there's an earthfill dam. This dam helps to hold all the water in the pool. There's also a small weir, which is like a mini-waterfall that controls the water flow.
Edgbaston Pool is right next to the Winterbourne Botanic Garden. It's also very close to the Edgbaston Golf Course and the University of Birmingham. You can visit the pool by going through the Winterbourne Botanic Garden.
Amazing Bird Life
People have been watching and recording the birds at Edgbaston Pool since at least the 1860s. Many different types of birds have been spotted here over the years.
Some of the cool birds that have been seen include the hooded crow, known for its grey body and black head. You might also hear the beautiful song of a nightingale. The nightjar is another interesting bird, often active at dusk. Even the hawfinch, a bird with a very strong beak, has been recorded here.
How the Site is Looked After
Edgbaston Pool is part of the Calthorpe Estate and is located on the grounds of Edgbaston Hall. The Edgbaston Golf Club leases this land. For many years, the site was managed by a special group. This group included members from the Birmingham Natural History Society and the Golf Club. They worked together following a plan agreed with Natural England.
However, in 2012, the Birmingham Natural History Society decided to step back from its official role. This was because they didn't have enough volunteers to help manage the site anymore. Now, the golf club will manage the site. They will work with Natural England under a new long-term lease.
