Sheldon Country Park
- Address
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Ragley Drive, Church Road, Sheldon, Birmingham, B26 3TU
- How to get there and parking
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Sheldon Country Park is situated on the eastern edge of Birmingham, seven miles from the city centre. The main entrance is on Ragley Drive. Pedestrian entrances on Church Road and Holly Lane (via the Marston Green station car park).
Free parking off Ragley Drive, opposite the entrance.
Disabled parking available at the Demonstration Farm, on request.
Buses 60 and 72 pass near the country park.
- About the park
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Sheldon Country Park is a great example of a “countryside in the city” experience with trees, flowers and a farm right next to a busy airport. It covers 300 acres and contains grassland, wetland, old hedgerows and mature woodland.
The seventeenth century Old Rectory Farm, a former dairy farm within the park, has been superbly restored and now functions as a Demonstration Farm showcasing traditional methods of farming.
The facility, run by the Park Rangers on behalf of Birmingham City Council, is free and open all year, with Jersey cattle, pigs, goats, geese and ponies. Seasonal activities are organised at the farm by the Rangers.
The Country Park sits alongside Birmingham International Airport and there is a viewing point on to the runway for aircraft enthusiasts. It lies just under a mile away from the farm buildings, and can only be accessed on foot (no motor vehicles).
The park is a wildlife haven with two winding brooks.
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- Video introduction
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- Facilities at the park
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- Children’s playground near the main entrance, next to the farm
- Demonstration farm with privately run on-site cafe
- Grassed areas for picnics including the Rectory Lawn Picnic Area
- Parking
- Three marked football pitches
- Awards and status
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Country Park
- Toilets
- Accessible toilets near the main entrance, close to the main farm building
- Points of interest
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- The Visitor Centre/Parks Ranger is located at Old Rectory Farm
- Old Rectory Farm was home to clergyman Thomas Bray from 1690 to 1721
- Church Road runs within the site
- Viewing point for Birmingham International Airport
- Sheldon Country Park Fair is held annually
- King George V Playing Field B26 3XX is also part of Sheldon Country Park
- Other features
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- Community orchard
- Broad paths, relatively flat, have been cut throughout the park to improve accessibility
- Hard-surfaced nature trail suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs – accessible from main car park
- Five kilometre walking route (Solihull Way)
- Local cycle route passes through the park
- Westley Brook and Hatchford Brook run through the country park
- The Sheldon Ward Millennium Woodland is planted on the site, including Khalsa (Sikh community) Woodland and Memorial Planting by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras (places of worship)
- Park friends group
- Parks friends group activities
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The Friends of Sheldon Country Park aim to promote and preserve the park for the benefit of the community. Their activities including fund-raising.
