Middleton Lakes

Welcome! We’re continuing to follow government guidance to make your visit safe and enjoyable. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest information (link below). Please also #RespectProtectEnjoy the special wildlife here and each other, by keeping to the paths, being mindful of other people’s space and following signage on-site. Thank you.

Address: RSPB Middleton Lakes, Bodymoor Heath Road, Tamworth B78 2BB

Grid ref: SP192967

What3Words: swam.incorrect.explains

Covid-19 updates for RSPB nature reserves

Beautiful and tranquil, Middleton Lakes is a mosaic of wetlands, meadows and woodland in the heart of the River Tame Valley. Several kilometres of trails lead visitors through a variety of rich habitats, alive with a variety of birds including grey herons, kingfishers and lapwings.

Plan your visit

Nature reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.
Car park: open daily
8.30am-4pm, 1 November-28 February.
8am-5pm, 1 March-31 October.
Visitor Hub: open at weekends only.
Toilets: There is one toilet available for our visitors to use at neighbouring Middleton Hall Courtyard. See their website for opening times.

Festive opening times

Christmas Eve: nature reserve and car park open as above.
Christmas Day: nature reserve and car park open as above.
Boxing Day: nature reserve and car park open as above.
New Year's Eve: nature reserve and car park open as above.
New Year's Day: nature reserve and car park open as above.
All other days in the festive period open as normal.
For Middleton Hall festive opening hours, see their website for details.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Car park cost

There are no entrance charges to the reserve, but the following car parking charges apply:

RSPB members: FREE (please display your membership card face down in your windscreen)
Non-members: £3 per car
Blue badge holders: FREE

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Refreshments
Picnic area
Guided walks is closed
Viewing point
Nature trails
Play area

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

The nearest railway station is Wilnecote, 2.5 miles away. On foot follow the signs towards Fazeley then turn left on the A4091 until you reach the canal. Walk alongside the canal to the reserve.

By bus

The reserve is not currently served by buses.

By bike

National cycle route 533.

By road

Middleton Lakes is off the A4091, just six miles from the M6 and four miles from the M42, north-east of Birmingham. By car, take the A446, the A4091 (ignore signs for Middleton Hall which has a separate entrance) and then Bodymoor Heath Road.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Other ways to get there

As well as the Heart-of-England Way footpath, the Birmingham & Fazeley canal passes through the reserve.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome on some parts of the nature reserve. Dogs are welcome on the public footpath and bridleway which form part of the woodland trail plus a short section of the wetland trail to the footbridge over the river to Dosthill nature reserve. Dogs are also permitted on the meadow trail loop. Please keep to the designated rights of way and follow the signage on site.

Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here.

Dogs are not permitted on the wetland trail to the north of the reserve or in the Play meadow. Please follow the no dog signage on site.

Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up its energy, decreasing its chance of survival regardless of the season. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife here by keeping your dog on a lead and under close, effective control.

Sorry, dogs aren’t permitted in the Welcome Hub, other than assistance dogs.
Dogs die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.
There are no dog waste bins on the reserve, we ask that you take their waste home with you to dispose of.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 169 KB

Middleton Lakes map

Contact Middleton Lakes

RSPB Middleton Lakes, Bodymoor Heath Road, Tamworth B78 2BB
middletonlakes@rspb.org.uk
01827 259454
@RSPBMiddleton
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Barn owl

When they have young to feed, you could see them at any time of day.

Cetti's warbler

They are very often hard to see, but their 'explosive' song is unmistakable.

Grey heron

More than 30 pairs of grey herons nest in the trees at Middleton Lakes.

Lapwing

in spring, lapwings come to the wet grasslands here to breed.

Sedge warbler

A warbler that returns from Africa in spring.

In spring, our heronry reaches its pinnacle with more than 100 birds present. Bluebells fill the woodland with scent and colour while returning warblers provide an enchanting soundtrack. On the wetlands, cuckoos announce the start of spring while wetland birds display around potential nest sites.

During summer, dragonflies emerge from the pools and are pursued by dashing hobbies. The longer evenings mean that bats and owls are often encountered as they make their first hunting flights. Baby birds are found all around the reserve and can be heard begging for food whilst trying to avoid trouble!

In autumn, young herons will be hanging around the wetlands hoping for easy meals, and kingfishers are regularly seen following a good breeding season. Winter wildfowl begin to return to the lakes and migrant waders drop in for a rest and feed, before continuing to wintering grounds.

The winter cold brings more species to the feeders, including lesser spotted woodpeckers. Frozen lakes force shy water rails into the open and even wintering bitterns can be seen on the reedbed fringes. Wildfowl and waders reach peak numbers with goldeneyes often found in the quieter pools and on the river. There are also impressive starling roosts.

About Middleton Lakes

Habitat

Middleton Lakes provides and protects a variety of habitats on reclaimed gravel extraction land in the Tame Valley, just south of Tamworth. These include open water, wet grassland, reedbed, meadow and woodland.

The reserve provides a valuable natural environment for both locals and the wider Midlands community.

Conservation

We're managing the reserve as a refuge for wintering wildfowl, breeding wetland birds and passage migrants. Other important wildlife includes reptiles and amphibians. We are managing the lakes to benefit wintering wildfowl, including goosanders, shovelers and wigeons, and breeding birds such as lapwings and little ringed plovers. We are also clearing vegetation on the islands outside the breeding season to benefit nesting lapwings and roosting water birds and to allow better views for visitors.

We're working to improve the reedbed for birds such as water rails and reed warblers. Every year we rake out fallen vegetation, cut back scrub and maintain water levels. We're also transplanting reed rhizomes to increase the overall size of our reedbeds. We manage wet grassland areas for wintering waterfowl plus nesting lapwings and skylarks. We have a number of Old English longhorn cattle which contribute considerably towards the development of the wet grassland.

Site information

Nestled in the beautiful Tame valley, just south of Tamworth on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire border, Middleton Lakes is one of our newest nature reserves to open to the public. Since we acquired the site in 2007, we've worked hard to make sure the final restoration benefits birds, wildlife and visitors. The area is already regionally important for overwintering wildfowl such as pochards, tufted ducks and smews. Middleton Lakes will become the most important site for breeding waders in the Midlands. The lakes, reedbeds, meadows and woodlands make it one of the best birdwatching sites in the area.

We have also recently opened our Lookout hide overlooking the northern scrapes. If you come and visit we'd love to know what you think. Other special wildlife here includes otters, butterflies, wetland plants and dragonflies. The reserve has been designed with families in mind, so there are always lots of ways to enjoy nature, whatever the season.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Our playmeadow has been designed for families. You're encouraged to experience nature up close and personal. Scramble up the grassy mound, find your way around the maze and much more.

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/middletonlakes

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Middleton Lakes