Where the Wild Things Are - a Sutton Park Experience

Sutton Park comprises 2,400 acres (970ha) of wild and wooded countryside of moorland, meadows, lakes and groves and is one of the largest urban parks in the country. The ancient Roman Ryknild Street runs across one corner of the park and the Normans once hunted deer here. Shakespeare had kinsmen at Sutton and is likely to have visited the site. One of his famous characters, Sir John Falstaff, probably brought his Ragged Army here for he declared to Bardolph:

'Get thee before to Coventry; fill me a bottle of sack; our soldiers shall march through. We'll to Sutton Coldfield tonight.'

William Shakespeare

King Henry IV, Part I

In 1997, English Nature designated Sutton Park a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in an effort to preserve this wonderful landscape. Although it is now surrounded on all sides by residential properties it remains an important area for Birmingham and the local Sutton Coldfield community. It's a valuable space in an otherwise congested region and offers a wide range of leisure pursuits - for joggers, kite-fliers, cyclists and walkers. Despite all this activity, it is still possible to escape from the crowds and find peace and quiet.

It is the diversity of habitats in the park which earned its NNR status. Many areas, like the heathland, wetland and ancient forest, represent habitats which were once widespread but have now completely disappeared from the rest of the West Midlands. For this reason, it is the home of a large number of resident birds, as well as providing an important stop-over for migrants and other visitors. Around the pools you might see tufted duck, pochard and even snipe, especially near Longmoor Pool. It is hoped that red kites and other species, which have vanished from the region's skies, will one day return.

The nearby market town of Sutton Coldfield was important in the Middle Ages and owes a great deal to local benefactor John Veysey, who became bishop of Exeter in 1519. He lived at Moor Hall, now inside the famous park, and built a number of notable buildings in and around the town. He also founded a school and paved the streets. Veysey is buried in Holy Trinity Church and there is a fine effigy of him on his tomb. It depicts him as a young man, even though he is reputed to have lived to the ripe old age of 103. The church also contains some interesting old brasses. In particular there is one of a Josias Bull in a gown of fur, along with small brasses of his five children. The marble busts of Henry Pudsey and his wife were made by William Wilson, a mason for Sir Christopher Wren.

What to look for

Bracebridge Pool is regarded by many people as the most beautiful pool in the park. It was built for Sir Ralph Bracebridge in order to maintain a plentiful supply of fish. In 1419, he obtained a lease on the manor and chase of Sutton Coldfield from the Earl of Warwick.

While you're there

The Wall Roman Site Baths and Museum lies 9 miles (14.5km) north of Sutton Coldfield, near Lichfield. Here you will see the excavation of the most complete public bathhouse of a Roman staging post, known as Letocetum. It's situated just off Watling Street, the great arterial road that connected the Roman port at Richborough, near Canterbury, with London and the north west. Less than a mile (1.6km) away from Letocetum, Watling Street intersects the Icknield Way, running south west to north east, so this must have been a very important highway junction during the Roman era - a Spaghetti Junction of it's day, with the bathhouse at the heart of a motorway service area.

Where to eat and drink

There are a number of places in Sutton Park with cafés and kiosks at the various park entrances. Alternatively you could try one of the pubs in Sutton Coldfield, in particular along Chester Road North (the A452), just outside the park.