Sheepwash Urban Park facts for kids

Island wildlife haven in the main lake

Sheepwash Urban Park is a special place in Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, UK. It's a Local Nature Reserve, which means it's protected for its amazing wildlife. This park is also part of the Black Country Urban Forest, a big green area in the West Midlands conurbation.

Where is Sheepwash Urban Park?

You can find Sheepwash Urban Park south of Great Bridge. The main ways to enter are from Sheepwash Lane and John's Lane, close to Dudley Port. A railway line runs along one side of the park. Houses surround the other parts.

This park wasn't always a park! It used to be a place where waste was dumped, and there was even a brick factory. But in the 1980s, the area was cleaned up and turned into the beautiful park you see today. It's quite big, covering about 37 hectares. That's like 70 football fields!

What Can You See at the Park?

The River Tame and Its Lakes

The Oldbury Arm of the River Tame flows right through the park. It helps fill several lakes of different sizes. These lakes are super important because they help stop the river from flooding nearby areas. The lakes, along with the wet areas, grassy fields, and woods, create a fantastic home for many animals and plants. You can still see parts of the old brick factory buildings around the lakes. Some lakes even have islands, which are safe spots for wildlife to live without being disturbed.

Amazing Wildlife

Sheepwash Urban Park is full of life! You can find many wild flowers growing here. There are also small mammals and amphibians, like frogs and newts. Lots of different insects buzz around too. The council says that people have seen 164 different kinds of birds in the park since 1985! So, it's a great spot for birdwatching. You can also go fishing in some of the lakes. Many schools in the Black Country use the park to teach students about nature and the environment.

Who Looks After the Park?

Sheepwash Urban Park is managed by the Sandwell Metropolitan Council and the BTCV. They work together to keep the park a great place for both people and wildlife.

Gallery

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  The Oldbury Arm of the Tame, near where it enters Sheepwash.

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  Grassy areas along the River Tame.

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  Mute swan and cygnets on the main lake.

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  Waterfowl, including Canada geese and greylag geese. Herons are also common.