The restoration project actively involves local residents in all aspects of research, conservation and restoration, including archaeological investigations, planting, fencing, habitat restoration, interpretation and community education programmes.

Click here for the Woodland Management Plan (PDF Download)

Before work started photos

After work...

Warley Woods Community Trust, in partnership with Sandwell MBC, have funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund to restore Warley Woods.

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)

In 1999, following a campaign organised by local residents concerned at the demolition of the glasshouses in 1996, the Community Trust and Sandwell Council were awarded a grant of £757,000 from the Urban Parks Program of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The HLF restoration activities include:

1. An archaeological investigation, conducted early in the project, to record the important archaeological features of the landscape, including, Warley Abbey, Warley Tor, the Temple, the Ice House
2. Resurfacing of drives, perimeter path and winter garden path
3. Installation of litterbins and benches
4. Installation of a new steel park railing perimeter fence to improve safety and the appearance of Warley Woods
5. Installation of bollards around the remainder of the perimeter to prevent dumping of car

Big Lottery Fund (BLF)

1. Woodland with natural planting, accessible paths, benches, arbours and sculptures
2. Vegetation management in the winter garden area of Warley Woods
3. A play area for younger visitors

Conservation Management Plan

The Community Trust is preparing a conservation management plan to secure the restoration and management of the park for a 10 year period (2006-2016).

TREE WORKS IN THE WOODS

As part of the overall Woodland Management Plan adopted for the long term management of the woods a number of projects involving the removal and planting of trees will take place in the coming months.

REMOVAL [to be done by Midland Forestry]

• Some of the Lawson cypress trees alongside the main carriageway will be taken out. Those with split stems have been identified as a future maintenance and safety problem.
• Some trees at the Barclay Rd side of the meadow will be removed in order to achieve the scalloped effect that Repton originally established, (it is hoped that this will also allow suitable places for extra benches to be installed).Those removed will include some with significant squirrel damage.
• A small group of conifers on the meadow, opposite the old fountain, will be taken out to allow an improved view from the “abbey” site of the meadow and surrounding woodland.
• Some of the “new” beech plantation alongside Barclay Rd will be removed to give more space for those remaining and to take out those most badly damaged by squirrels.

PLANTING

• The fencing contractors will be returning later in the year to plant trees and hedges inside the new fence and wall on Abbey Rd, more than restoring the losses incurred during the renovation work.
• Some new nursery trees will be planted in and on the Abbey Rd side of the meadow to ensure that the landscape continues to include some fine, large specimens. [Midland Forestry]
• The Barclay Rd side of the meadow will be reinforced with new trees in two places to contribute to Repton’s scalloped effect. [Midland Forestry]
• Over 300 small trees will be planted by volunteers in the main area of beech and oak woodland during the winter months, together with the transplanting of saplings from the existing woodland.

The net effect will be a considerable increase in the number of trees. Beech and oak will continue to dominate but there will also be significant numbers of rowan, lime and chestnut.

Relevant extracts and the full Woodland plan are available for perusal in the Pavilion cafe.