Highbury Park through the seasons and the years between Kings Heath and Moseley
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I first started getting photos of Highbury Park near Kings Heath and Moseley 10 years ago in December 2009. First proper venture into the park when it was all covered in snow to see Highbury Hall. The park was originally the grounds of the home of Joseph Chamberlain. He gave the park to the city before his death in 1914 and the park opened to the public in 1930.
Highbury Park on Wikipedia. The park is the estate of Highbury Hall which was the former home of Joseph Chamberlain. Once the Mayor of Birmingham in the late 19th Century. He was later an MP. The hall is near the north east corner of the park on Yew Tree Road in Moseley (in the Moor Green area). Before he died he bequeathed the park to the people of Birmingham. The park finally opened to the public in 1930.
The Camp Hill Line is to the south of the park. Hopefully in a few years, Kings Heath Station will be rebuilt close to where The Gym and Homebase are now at the Findlay Road Retail Park.
The main entrance of the park is on the High Street in Kings Heath, close to Queensbridge Road. If you are coming from Kings Heath Park, you can also enter Highbury Park from Dad's Lane, in an entrance on Shutlock Lane. The other entrances and exits are on Moor Green Lane, and near the gatehouse lodge close to Yew Tree Road.
From here you can then walk towards Cannon Hill Park, either down Russell Road or head down Moor Green Lane and enter on Brockley Grove onto the Holders Lane Woods.
OK back to Highbury Park.
December 2009
The first time I got photos of Highbury Park was from early December 2009 from the High Street in Kings Heath, but I did not enter the park at this time as I wasn't ready. I probably headed up Queensbridge Road at the time.
The path down into the park. I would return a few weeks later after it had snowed.
About 4 days before Xmas Day I headed to the park, this time for an actual walk around. Back to the High Street, Kings Heath entrance (at this point hadn't used the other entrances). A bike near the caution sign.
The old brick wall. It would later be fully repaired years later.
One of the ponds in the park. Totally frozen and iced over.
The paths near Moor Green Lane and Shutlock Lane had a thin layer of snow over them. Evergreen trees behind trees that had shed their leaves.
I think the snow was completely frozen over the paths despite all the footprints and tyre marks from bikes. This path leads back to the old wall. The gardens of Highbury Hall are to the left of here.
Near the entrance / exit to Moor Green Lane, close to Yew Tree Road is this gatehouse / lodge. Now a private residence. Built around 1880 as part of the original approach to Highbury Hall. Part of the drive is still present. But most of the route is now covered by trees. Now the only main entrance to Highbury Hall is on Yew Tree Road.
January 2015
The next major time I visited Highbury Park with my camera was when there was these outdoor musical instruments that people could play with (especially young kids). This one looked like a harp.
A carved wooden bench.
Another wooden bench. Notice that they both have flowers carved into them.
Can you play? Can you play loud or quiet? - Dynamics. Can you play long or short notes? Duration. This is what it says on each one of these musical instruments.
A bit closer up. Not really sure how they work.
A wooden circle. Birmingham's very on "Stone Henge" or more like "Wood Henge" in Highbury Park.
Stone hall in a triangular piece of stone. Again not fully sure what you are supposed to do with this, maybe say something through the hole and another person may hear you?
August 2018
Heading down Dad's Lane towards the Shutlock Lane entrane of the park. Saw this National Express West Midlands single decker bus on the 27 bus route. It would also pass Kings Heath Park.
Saw a Land Rover Series II in the car park.
Mocha Moo Cafe was at The Great Big Pet Picnic. Here people could get food and drink while with their pets in this field.
The leaves were lush and green in the middle of August 2018. And the ponds made some nice reflections and ripples.
The pond is also known as the Fish Pond. Many birds are to be seen around here.
Saw this heron pirched on a branches of a tree that was over the pond.
Trees in a wood and early signs of the autumn to come.
Almost the middle of August, and leaves were already falling off trees, and it wasn't yet September!
Yet the leaves on the trees were still green. Apart from the leaves that had already fallen.
August 2019
Heading round the back of the old brick wall. Now fully restored, after part of it was damaged. Signs of graffiti, but faint.
Getting closer to the wall. Trees all full of green leaves at this point. This was near the end of August 2019.
Here you can see evidence of the brick wall repairs. Looking as good as new.
A grass path amongst the trees. I didn't head up this one.
Reflections in the pond. Leaves still lush and green before autumn came.
A Common moorhen seen in the Fish Pond. The odd leaf had fallen into the pond. And the fishes are just about visible close to the surface. At least I think they are fishes!
Several flower beds with roses. Close to the Shutlock Lane and Moor Green Lane exit.
After this I headed down Moor Green Lane and went into Cannon Hill Park via the Holders Lane Woods. In late summer, there is usually a fun fair on the fairground in Cannon Hill Park, which I saw on my walk towards Edgbaston Road. You can even start your three parks walk in Kings Heath Park and walk through Highbury Park and then into Cannon Hill Park. Ending up near the Cricket Ground.
For more of my Highbury Park photos, please check out my Flickr album here Highbury Park.
Photos taken by Elliott Brown.
Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.