Hill Hook facts for kids

Hill Hook is a lovely area located in Sutton Coldfield, which is part of Birmingham, England. It's a place where you can find both homes and a special natural space.

Discovering Hill Hook's Nature Reserve

One of the most important parts of Hill Hook is its Local Nature Reserve. This is a protected area where plants and animals can thrive. It was officially recognized in 2003. The reserve covers about 5.65 hectares, which is like the size of more than ten football fields!

The History of the Mill Pond

The Hill Hook Nature Reserve is built on the site of an old watermill. This mill was first built way back in the 1600s, in the 17th century. Watermills used the power of flowing water to grind grain. There was a large pool of water, called a mill pool, that helped power the mill. This pool was made even bigger in 1767.

Locally, people often call the nature reserve 'The Meddies' or 'The Mill Pond'. While some parts of the original area were built on starting in the 1980s, important sections of the natural habitat are still preserved today.

Protecting Hill Hook's Wildlife

Looking after the nature reserve is a big job! A local group called the Friends of Hill Hook helps with this. They are part of The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. These dedicated volunteers work together with the Council ranger service. Their goal is to keep the site healthy and safe for all the wildlife that lives there. They help with things like keeping paths clear and looking after the plants.

Hill Hook's Location and Transport

Hill Hook is located near other well-known areas. It's close to Four Oaks and Little Aston. It's also only about one mile away from the huge and beautiful Sutton Park.

Getting to Hill Hook is easy! The area has its own train station, Blake Street railway station. There are also bus routes that serve the area, like the X3 (which used to be the 902) run by National Express West Midlands.