St. Margaret's Hospital Grounds

This site is a Staffordshire Nature Conservation Trust Reserve. The reserve lies within the boundaries of St. Margaret's Hospital Great Barr, which comprises two lakes with various blocks of woodland types around them, and some small areas of marsh vegetation. Stand types are comprised of different mixtures of alder, birch, sycamore, oak, willow, and horse chestnut mainly. Main shrub species include: dogwood, elder, hawthorn, rhododendron and snowberry. Some of the more interesting flowers are bluebells, marsh marigolds, ramsoms, angelica, tormentil, pignut, brooklime and lady's bedstraw.

Aquatic features

Aquatic and marginal plants associated with the lakes include: water mint, gipsywort, pond edge, water fogwort, branched bur-reed and yellow water lily.
Many species of bird have been recorded on the reserve notably pochard and ruddy duck on the lakes with tawny owl, sparrowhawk and many common passerines in the woodland.

Management recommendations

The Staffordshire Trust manage the site as a nature reserve.