Welcome
Welcome to our wonderful nature reserve. We compromise of 400 acres of wetlands, woodlands and meadows which we manage for wildlfie and people. Middleton Lakes was once a sand and gravel quarry, part of the Tame Valley excavations by Hanson. Over the past decade we have changed the landscape from an industrial use back to the natural environment. Our visitors start their journey from the car park where footpaths lead them past a bustling heronry, through a woodland bursting with bluebells in the spring and out to the main wetland trails where you can enjoy exploring the wider reserve via our path network. Leave the hustle and bustle of life behind you as you discover a mosaic of habitats around the reserve.
Level access
There is level access from the car park to:
Play meadow picnic areasAccess with steps
Visual
Getting here
Travel by public transport
The reserve is not currently served by public buses. The nearest railway station is Wilnecote, approximatley 4km away.
Travel by taxi
Parking
There is a parking charge for non-members to the RSPB. Members can park for free. There is parking for 55 cars plus 3 signposted places for Blue Badge holders. The car parking spaces are edged with wooden rounded timber and the surface is rough gravel The path along side the car park leading to the Visitor Hub is fine gravel. The main car park has a height barrier, restricting access for vehicles over 2.1m. There is alternative parking available for tall vehicles approximatley 50m back along the access track in our Out of Hours parking area which is level tarmac.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
The Visitor Hub is a new addition to the reserve. Currently is has a step and threshold over the door to navigate but we are aiming to have entrance to the Hub more accessible by Summer 2019. The door is 1m wide however we have the option of opening the bi-fold doors making the entrance 3m wide. When the Hub is open it will have staff/volunteers working there to assist visitors. The path outside the Hub is fine gravel and 1.5m wide at it's narrowest.
Getting around inside
Getting around outside
Play Meadow Trail
The play meadow trail is a circular trail around a meadow starting from the Visitor Hub. The area is devoted to stimulate wild play and includes den building, pond dipping and bug hunting zones. The ground underfoot is rough and uneven with areas prone to being waterlogged during wet weather. A path of approximatley 1m in width is mown to designate the trail. There is a 3m section of anti-slip boardwalk over one pool with no railings. The pond dipping area has several benches, the pond dipping platform has a small step to navigate.
Designated Walking Trail
Woodland trail
The woodland trail is a 700m walk each way beginning at the car park. The trail ranges from 1-2m wide, incorporating several changes of path surface.
As you leave the car park access there is a kissing gate with swing gate which is 1m wide. Near the beginning of the trail there is a 20m section of anti-slip boardwalk. We have a photography screen over looking a bird feeding station which has a hard surface but loose top. The viewing slots are various heights to suit photography needs.
Beyond the boarwalk the path is rough gravel leading into the main woodland which can be wet and muddy especially in Winter. In Summer it is generally dry but undulating. There are several benches along the trail, with a view point half way down the woodland with 3 benches and a viewing platform. Towards the end of the trail there are 3 anti-slip boardwalks and bridges with ramps. Nearing the canal the trail has a hard granite fine top to the canal bridge which has a curved 1:10 gradient.
Designated Walking Trail
Wetland trails
The wetland trail is approximatley 5km of circular and figure of eight trails. There is a mix of hard granite topped paths, mown grassy paths and dual lined limestone tracks.
The trail from the canal bridge to the north, to the Lookout is a hardsurfaced path with benches. The Lookout is a spacious bird hide with a variety of windows. To access the Lookout their is a coded punch lock. Once inside the Lookout is level throughout with seats which area movable and height adjustable.
There are hard surfaced paths which lead to 2 other viewing screens overlooking the Jubilee wetlands. Each screen has 3 benches with a vareity of viewing spaces. The path between the screens is rutted and uneven.
The path from the canal bridge to the River Tame footbridge over to Dosthill is a mix of dual lined linestone and hard surfaced granite path. the river bridge has an access ramp. The wetland trail on Dosthill is a grassy mown footpath with hard surface to both viewing screens. Both viewing screens here have benches with viewing spaces approxmatley 1.2m above the ground.
The trails have various backed and un-backed benches along their length. The mown grassy trails are prone to becoming muddy in Winter or after heavy rainfall. It is worth pointing out the wetland trails lies within the floodplain and trails nearest the River Tame can go underwater after sever heavy rain.
Designated Walking Trail
Southern Meadow Trail
This is a circular 2.25km trail around an area of fenced meadow incorporating a section of surfaced footpath on top of a high level bank. It starts from the canal bridge and is reached via the woodland trail.
Apart from the high level path the trail is grassy and rough under foot with a anti-slip boardwalk at the northern end and metal kissing gate at the southern point. In wet weather and in the Winter the grassy trail becomes extremley muddy and water logged and is prone to flooding.
From the high level path there are 2 further access points onto the canal which has a hard but unever surface. There is one bench on the high level path.
The Lookout
Picnic Area
Play meadow picnic areas
Currently there are 3 areas with picnic benches - next to the car park, outside the Visitor Hub and inside the entrance to the play meadow. 2 benches are on fine gravel path, the other 4 benches are on short mown grass. The Summer of 2019 will see more picnic benches and creation of more areas. There are mown areas to encourage picnicing with no benches in the wider play meadow zone.