Explore a Local Nature Reserve

The Friends of Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood Nature Reserve has built on the success of previous groups and years of volunteering and campaigning. It was community action that saved the reserve from the developers, and was one of the catalysts for the formation of the Urban Wildlife Group, which became The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.
The Friends are now one of the Trust's local groups. You are welcome to attend our Annual General Meeting held each May at Sarehole Mill. In the meantime, if you'd like to join the Friends group, or find out more about them, please contact mosbogfriends@gmail.com.

We own and look after nature reserves using evidence based methods to increase biodiversity and create wildlife havens.

saved from development following a huge public campaign, the site became a nature reserve and supports a tremendous range of plants, animals and insects. Especially fascinating are the gnarled old trees and the fantastic displays of bluebells each spring.
Moseley Bog was the childhood playground of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. He stated that the site inspired the 'old forest' in his books. People come from all over the world to discover his inspiration for themselves.
The site also has great archaeological interest, having two burnt mounds, as well as more recent remains such as the old mill dam and the foundations of Victorian greenhouses.

The settlement at Hill Hook was probably established between 1530 and 1580. The 17th century date for the establishment of the mill at Hill Hook makes it a relative latecomer to the area. The stream was dammed to form the mill pool, this was necessary as the water supply was poor so near to the source. A lower position downstream would have guaranteed a better supply, but this would have taken it outside the control of Sutton Coldfield. The Hill Hook Mill was the most northerly of Sutton Coldfield mills. The over flow from the mill pool runs into the Footherley Brook which flows north to Shenstone and then east to the River Tame at Tamworth in Staffordshire

Saved from development following a huge public campaign, the site became a nature reserve and supports a tremendous range of plants, animals and insects. Especially fascinating are the gnarled old trees and the fantastic displays of bluebells each spring.
Moseley Bog was the childhood playground of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. He stated that the site inspired the 'old forest' in his books. People come from all over the world to discover his inspiration for themselves.
The site also has great archaeological interest, having two burnt mounds, as well as more recent remains such as the old mill dam and the foundations of Victorian greenhouses.

Frequently asked questions and answers about our Moseley Bog nature reserve.

Restoring the Fen at Moseley Bog & Joy's Wood