Forge Mill Lake

Forge Mill Lake is a local nature reserve in Sandwell Valley, near West Bromwich in West Midlands, England. It is within Sandwell Valley Country Park.

Forge Mill Lake
Looking west along the lake
Location in West Midlands
LocationSandwell Valley
grid reference SP 031 926
Coordinates52.5305°N 1.9551°W / 52.5305; -1.9551
Area63 hectares (160 acres)
Operated bySandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
DesignationLocal nature reserve
WebsiteForge Mill Lake

Description

The site, area 63 hectares (160 acres),[1] is owned and managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, and was declared a local nature reserve (LNR) in 1991. Part of the site, including one of the two islands in the lake, is managed by the RSPB as part of the adjacent Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve.[2]

The lake is alongside the River Tame. There is a footpath around the lake; wildflower meadows and woodland plantations are linked to it by pathways, a cycleway and bridleway. There is a visitor centre at Forge Mill Farm.[1]

Wildfowl and other species can be seen on the lake; in winter, wigeon, snipe, water rail and other rarer birds are there. In spring and autumn, migrant birds pass through and rarities may be seen.[1]

The lake itself, also known as Sandwell Valley Storage Lake, was completed in 1981 as part of flood alleviation measures on the adjacent river; its capacity is 498,000 m3 (651,000 cu yd).[3]

As of 2020, the lake is being remodelled and its capacity increased as part of the "Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme".[4][5]

References
  1. "Forge Mill Lake" Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  2. "Forge Mill Lake LNR" Natural England. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  3. Environment Agency public register of Large Raised Reservoirs, as at 2 November 2020, via Boswarva, Owen. "Large Raised Reservoirs". Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. "Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme". United Kingdom government. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  5. Archer, Megan. "Pictured: Huge new flood defences going up at Sandwell Valley". Express and Star. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
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