[1] It consists of a mix of heathland, wetlands and marshes, seven lakes, extensive ancient woodlands (covering approximately a quarter of the park), several restaurants, a private 18-hole golf course on its western edge and a municipal golf course to the south, a donkey sanctuary, children's playgrounds and a Visitor Centre.

Peat-cutting, near Rowton's Well during World War II, recovered flint arrowheads at the base of the peat.

Near Blackroot Pool are the earthworks of an ancient encampment, the origin of this is not known – possibly it was a hunting lodge and it may have been Roman, Mercian or Norman (or even all three, over time).

The park was established as a Royal Forest by the Anglo Saxon kings of Mercia, from their seat at Tamworth[3] at around the 9th century.

Construction of the line resulted in the filling in of an area of wetland known as "Webb's Stows", causing the loss of several species of rare plants from the park.

[4] The Sutton Miniature Railway ran near to the present-day Wyndley Leisure Centre, from circa 1905 until the 1960s, when it was dismantled and the equipment put into store.

Free buses were provided by Travel West Midlands and a large Radio 1 Air ship floated above the park.

These include: There is a free 5 km parkrun event in the park at 9:00am every Saturday, starting at Banners Gate.

[9] The City of Birmingham triathlon event in held in July with the open water swim stage taking place in Powell's Pool.

The swimming occurred in Powell's Pool, while the cycling took to the streets of Boldmere before transitioning to running in the park itself.

Following heavy rainfall, water is fed into the streams from outside the park via storm drains known as "Combined Sewer Overflows".

In July 2005, a 20-year 'Keepers of Time' scheme was announced, which will eliminate alien species from ancient woodlands and restore native varieties like oak, ash and beech.

The park is currently managed by Birmingham City Council; but in July 2004 it was announced that control would be devolved to the local councillors for Sutton Coldfield.

There is still considerable car traffic into and out of the park, mainly of families with children, dog walkers, kite/model aeroplane fliers and other recreational use.

The commercial funfair for small children beside Powell's Pool continues to operate, attracting significant business.

In February 2008, a City Council feasibility study examined the possibility of once again running passenger trains through the park.

[13] Due to the outbreak, the autumn Midlands Counties and English National Road Relays running events in 2012 were cancelled.