Visiting Royal Sutton Coldfield Park

Added: 04/25/2007

Steeped in history, charm and quite a bit of green plants, the Royal Sutton Coldfield Park is a favorite spot for locals. Once upon a time, Sutton Coldfield was its own Royal Town, but is now considered a northern borough of the city of Birmingham. Royal Sutton Coldfield Park used to be the hunting grounds of England's Monarchy, given to the Royal Town by Henry VIII. Nowadays, it boasts a nature reserve, a lakeside restaurant, a donkey sanctuary and a carved tree.

Birmingham (pronounced “BURR ming gum” by the locals) is England’s second biggest city. They might not have gone so high up the list if they had not absorbed the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield under the Local Government Act of 1972. The locals have not gotten over that yet. The nickname for those from Birmingham is “Brummy”, but don’t you dare call anyone from Sutton Coldfield a “Brummy.” As fiercely proud they are of their history, they are also proud of Royal Sutton Coldfiled Park. At least that never lost its Royal title. If the locals think the park is being mismanaged, they will sue the mamgement!

And they have nearly 2500 acres of reasons to be so proud. It is a gorgeous nature preserve of flora, fauna and the land they need to live on. The Park goes from woodlands to heath to swampy land. It has its own lake (and a restaurant by it) and streams. The Visitors Centre will help you make your plans for the day, and there is currently no entrance fee (although there is a fee for parking if you travel by car). All of Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield have dependable bus routes.

There are many things to do in Sutton Park, depending on the season. There are two golf courses, sailing, canoeing, fishing, cycling routes, nature and people watching, and special marked walks if you are interested in the historical architecture. The locals, and even the Brummies, like to walk their dogs, jog, fly model planes or kites, picnic, go horseback riding (they bring their own horses) and sunbathe. English parks are a great chance to get to know people. They are much more relaxed than if you’re crammed with them in a museum or airport.

There is a romantic legend associated with the park, and of course, English Royalty is involved. It is said that King Henry VII went hunting in Sutton Coldfield, and was attacked by a wild boar. An arrow flew out of nowhere, striking the beast and saving the King’s life. The archer turned out to be a beautiful young woman. Henry VII, always moved by pretty ladies, said he’d grant her whatever she wanted as a reward. Perhaps the King was hoping she would say “I’d like to be the next Queen”, but she didn’t. She bemoaned her family’s fate of loosing their property, the town of Sutton Coldfield, and so King Henry granted it and the Park to her and her family “in perpetuity.”

You might be surprised to see cars and trucks driving about the park, but it is a big place. There are areas where auto traffic is prohibited. The speed limit is never over twn miles an hour. Many of the roads, walking paths and bridle trails have been renovated in the last ten years with an overall repair of Birmingham’s city limits. (Being a Brummie can have its benefits, too). There are paths for the disabled, too.

You might be lucky to see one of the many creatures that live within the Royal Park. These include the very rare water shrew, rare bats, toads and frogs and not-so-rare cattle, foxes, Exmoor Ponies, donkeys and stoats. Feeling twitchy? Bird watching (or “twitching”) is a delight. There are the usual English favorites of robins, linnets and blue tits, and the shyer woodpeckers, treecreepers, nuthatches and owls.

The park is open year round, usually from 10am to 7pm (4:30 pm in the winter), but you can check out the latest Royal Sutton Coldfield Park news online at their web site.

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