Project details

Walsall Heaths is a landscape-scale habitat restoration project addressing the urgent need to reconnect fragmented heathland ecosystems across eastern Walsall. Focused on a 2km² area between Aldridge and Streetly, the project links Shire Oak Park LNR, Barr Beacon LNR and Barr Beacon Quarry, creating a vital ecological corridor that connects to Sutton Park, the largest remaining heathland in the region.
The project prioritises the restoration of lowland heathland, a globally rare and declining habitat threatened by urbanisation and pollution. This will create a diverse mosaic of heathland, wetland and woodland habitats through targeted actions such as scrub removal, turf stripping, heather restoration, wetland creation and selective woodland thinning. These interventions will support priority species including willow tit, common lizard and specialist heathland invertebrates such as the Tormentil Mining Bee, while improving site hydrology and climate resilience.
Key objectives include restoring connected priority habitats, strengthening ecological connectivity, increasing populations of key species, improving access to high-quality green space and building partnerships with landowners. Community engagement is integral, with volunteering, citizen science and skills development fostering long-term stewardship. The project also supports a wider strategic ecological corridor linking Cannock Chase SAC and Sutton Park NNR as part of Natural England’s Purple Horizons partnership.

Scheme / Programme

This project forms part of the wider Wild Walsall landscape recovery programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered with Natural England and the Environment Agency where resources are spread across multiple habitats and priorities. This additional funding will deliver expanded and increased heathland creation, better connectivity, enhanced species recovery and increased community access to nature.

Scale

The scale of this project is 200 hectares.

Project delivery timeline

Project planning is underway as part of the wider Wild Walsall programme. Delivery runs Feb 2027–October 2029, with habitat works focused in winter months. Phased heathland, wetland and woodland restoration across sites will be supported by annual summer invertebrate surveys and late-summer flora monitoring.

Community involvement

Community involvement is central to this project’s design, delivery and long‑term success. Early engagement through citizen science surveys, site walks and workshops identified local priorities, barriers to access and opportunities for habitat improvement, directly shaping interventions and access enhancements. During delivery, communities will play an active role through volunteer days, species surveys, training sessions and co‑designed habitat management activities. Partnerships with local “Friends of” groups, universities and specialist ecological networks will support inclusive participation. We will work closely with local land managers, providing training and practical support to help them manage their land for wildlife. Following delivery, ongoing volunteering, monitoring and stewardship opportunities will build local ownership. Targeted outreach will ensure underrepresented communities are engaged, helping to develop skills, confidence and lasting connections to nature.