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.

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.