New Shire Country Park - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 01-11-2005, 01:43 PM

I don't recall seeing this mentioned on our site... I've never been here but it sounds interesting.

Millstream Project, a nature park on Birmingham's River Cole, has recently been renamed "The Shire Country Park" in honor of JRRT's eleventy-third birthday. I know this had been in the works for some time. Birmingham's City Council, members of the Tolkien society, and people from the Millstream preserve all worked together to bring about the change. Eventually, they hope to put up a visitor's center and various educational programs.

According to the newspaper reports, the newly-named park is less than two miles south-east of Birmingham's city center. Although surrounded by city, it is home to numerous species of birds, butterflies and bats as well as a variety of trees and plants. The four-mile wooded walking trail includes such familiar sites as Sarehole Mill, the inspiration for the mill in The Hobbit, and Moseley Bog, which is thought to have inspired the "Old Forest". The folk who take care of the park are called the "Mill Stream Rangers".

The first rumors about all this were that the city was looking to name a "theme park" after Tolkien. In the context of Tolkien's life and feelings for the land, this sounded truly awful! So I was happy to hear that they are aiming at this instead. It seems to be an appropriate way to "celebrate" Tolkien's ties with his childhood haunts.

Just thought folk would like to know about this. Also, has anyone here actually been to the nature preserve they've renamed? I understand the Tolkien Society has an annual weekend at Sarehole.

For more information and a picture or two, click here for The Shire Country Park.

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-11-2005, 01:56 PM

That's interesting! I did visit Sarehole Mill when I was in Birmingham last year, so I have a general idea of the location. Despite the closeness of the city now, it still feels a bit rural there, and the park should help keep it that way. I imagine Tolkien would have been pleased!

Rumil · 01-16-2005, 06:04 PM

Its always the things on your doorstep that you never bother to go and see!

As a current inhabitant of dear old Brum, I solemnly promise to drop in to Sarehole Mill, perhaps I'll take a few potos too and post them on the Downs. I'll wait for a nice sunny day though, so don't expect anything before March!

Child of the 7th Age · 01-16-2005, 06:15 PM

Rumil -

Thank you. The pictures would be a delight for those of us who live many miles away. Perhaps you could put your ear to the ground and ferret out any scuttlebut about future plans for the park.

~Child

01-11-2005, 01:43 PM	#1
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	New Shire Country Park I don't recall seeing this mentioned on our site... I've never been here but it sounds interesting. Millstream Project, a nature park on Birmingham's River Cole, has recently been renamed "The Shire Country Park" in honor of JRRT's eleventy-third birthday. I know this had been in the works for some time. Birmingham's City Council, members of the Tolkien society, and people from the Millstream preserve all worked together to bring about the change. Eventually, they hope to put up a visitor's center and various educational programs. According to the newspaper reports, the newly-named park is less than two miles south-east of Birmingham's city center. Although surrounded by city, it is home to numerous species of birds, butterflies and bats as well as a variety of trees and plants. The four-mile wooded walking trail includes such familiar sites as Sarehole Mill, the inspiration for the mill in The Hobbit, and Moseley Bog, which is thought to have inspired the "Old Forest". The folk who take care of the park are called the "Mill Stream Rangers". The first rumors about all this were that the city was looking to name a "theme park" after Tolkien. In the context of Tolkien's life and feelings for the land, this sounded truly awful! So I was happy to hear that they are aiming at this instead. It seems to be an appropriate way to "celebrate" Tolkien's ties with his childhood haunts. Just thought folk would like to know about this. Also, has anyone here actually been to the nature preserve they've renamed? I understand the Tolkien Society has an annual weekend at Sarehole. For more information and a picture or two, click here for The Shire Country Park. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

01-11-2005, 01:56 PM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	That's interesting! I did visit Sarehole Mill when I was in Birmingham last year, so I have a general idea of the location. Despite the closeness of the city now, it still feels a bit rural there, and the park should help keep it that way. I imagine Tolkien would have been pleased! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

01-16-2005, 06:04 PM	#3
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	Its always the things on your doorstep that you never bother to go and see! As a current inhabitant of dear old Brum, I solemnly promise to drop in to Sarehole Mill, perhaps I'll take a few potos too and post them on the Downs. I'll wait for a nice sunny day though, so don't expect anything before March! __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

01-16-2005, 06:15 PM	#4
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Rumil - Thank you. The pictures would be a delight for those of us who live many miles away. Perhaps you could put your ear to the ground and ferret out any scuttlebut about future plans for the park. ~Child __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.