Earlswood Lakes

[1] Being so near to Birmingham, the lakes proved attractive to visitors from the city from the early 1900s, and their popularity has been maintained, with recent improvements to the facilities which they provide.

Previously believed to be a cryptid the creature was in fact an Alligator snapping turtle, proved when a carp fisherman caught a 33 pound (16 kilo) specimen on 2 September 2008.

[6] Engine pool was drained in late 2017 after the Canal and River Trust became aware that it contained a population of invasive catfish.

It re-opened for fishing in early 2020, and the restocking programme was expected to have released 40,000 carp weighing an average of 8 ounces (230 g) by 2021.

Most modern classes of boat can be sailed, including Merlin-Rocket, Enterprise, National 12, Laser, Toppers, Mirrors and Solos.

[8] The managing Partnership was awarded a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative in 2002, which resulted in the upgrading of pathways around the site, to create a trail around the lakes, much of which is accessible to mobility-impaired users.

Plants such as Angelica, great willowherb, amphibious bistort, betony, gipsywort and yellow flag iris are all common to the area.

An unwanted pest however is the mink that have escaped or been released from fur farms and have found their way onto the lakes via the network of rivers and canals in the area.

[12] Terry's Pool is bounded at its western edge by the Clowes Wood and New Fallings Coppice site of special scientific interest (notified in 1973).

The ancient woodlands are excellent examples of lowland mixed oakwoods, and support a large and important breeding bird population.