Sandwell has over 2,500 acres of open countryside for you to discover, offering sport, angling, quiet walks and activities.

Sandwell Park Farm

Sandwell Park Farm is a Grade II listed building and registered rare breeds centre, brings to life the sounds and sights of nineteenth century farming, as well as having a walled kitchen garden to delight keen gardeners.

The farm also has exhibition areas, where visitors can walk past Victorian shop fronts, or visit mediaeval monks and Stone Age hunter gatherers.

When you feel the need for a break, the Farm's award winning tearooms offer a refreshing alternative, offering traditional breakfasts and a range of cakes and other snacks in a pleasant environment.

Toilet facilities are excellent and the whole farm has good access for both non-disabled and disabled visitors.

The farm acts as the visitor centre for Sandwell Valley Country Park; over 1700 acres of lakes, woodland, including Priory Woods Local Nature Reserve and farmland, where visitors can walk, cycle, watch birds, play golf and tennis, or simply relax and take in the surroundings.

Facilities are also available for angling and sailing on one of the Valley's Lakes, Swan Pool, with angling also available in Dartmouth Park, a formal Victorian Park with a playground. Trails from the farm lead past fields of sheep and cows to Hill House Farm, which has a multi-use trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, before passing over the M6 Motorway and past Swan Pool to Forge Mill Farm.

Forge Mill Farm

Forge Mill Farm is a modern dairy farm, set up to complement Sandwell Park Farm, providing visitors with the chance to experience farming from the Nineteenth Century to the present day.

Visitors can watch our herd of pedigree Jersey cows being milked each afternoon from a specially built viewing area that overlooks the milking parlour. The farm also gives families the chance to feed our goats and chickens, or follow the farm trail around the fields and watch seasonal activities such as hay making and silaging from a safe distance.

Forge Mill Lake is just a short walk from Forge Mill Farm and is available for walks throughout the year.

Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre

Situated just off the Birmingham Main Line Canal, Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre lies about three miles to the South of Sandwell Valley. It gives visitors an insight into some of the most important civil engineering feats in the area, including Galton Bridge, at the time of its building the longest single span bridge over the largest man made cutting in the World. Galton Valley was also home to Chance's glass works, the place where the glass for Crystal Palace was produced and has what are believed to be the oldest working set of lock gates in the Country.

As well as the visitor centre, a recently restored pump house gives the opportunity for visitors to see the workings of a steam pump at close hand. The site of James Watt's Smethwick Engine is nearby. Two canals run through the Valley - The Old Main Line is a contour canal which follows the same level, meandering along the Valley wall and the New Main Line, Thomas Telford's straight line from Wolverhampton to Birmingham.

The towpath of the New Main Line has been surfaced to provide a cycle route and the Centre is easily reached by bus and train.

Educational visits are a regular feature at all three of these sites.

Although Sandwell Valley is the largest single piece of countryside in Sandwell, there are several Local Nature Reserves across the borough, just as important for local residents and visitors to the area.

Other visitor attractions include Haden Hill House, the Park and Corngreaves Nature Reserve. An information booklet has been produced which can be viewed by online.

Contact Us

If you have any comment or suggestion regarding our service or web pages please do not hesitate to contact us via any of the methods below:

Environment House
Lombard Street
West Bromwich
West Midlands
B70 8RU

Tel: 0121 553 0220
Fax: 0121 525 9435

Email: john.stokes@sandwell.gov.uk

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm