Birch Coppice is all that remains of woodland that once stretched all the way to the old railway at Engine Lane, but was obliterated by the clay pit. Imagery from Bing! Maps.
I’ve had a really interesting enquiry in from reader Luke Statham, who’s a geocacher and would like to place some caches in Birch Coppice, the woodland that sits behind the Hussey Estate off Coppice Lane, Brownhills, wedged in there between the old railway at the back of the Potclays former landfill site.
Luke wrote:
Good Morning Bob,
I’m reaching our for your help if possible. I’m trying to find out who owns the woodland behind my grandad’s house in Albion Road, Brownhills. I have attached a map showing the area. I wondered with your local knowledge, whether you would know who the land belongs too? I’m not sure whether it is privately owned or owned by Walsall Council.
The reason for my query is, myself, wife and son are into Geocaching – and we would like to place some caches around the area. Before placing we have to sought permission from the land owner first. Walsall Council, do sound quite obliging towards Geocachers but i’m not sure if they own this piece of land?
Hope that you can help.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Luke Statham
I’ll be absolutely honest here: I have no idea whatsoever. I don’t believe it’s the council, as I’ve never seen it referred to by the Greenspaces team, nor have I ever seen the area maintained by them; for my money it’s either owned by Potclays (see their site here) or Wallace Estates of Little Wyrley, who I believe own much of the common between Brownhills and Lime Lane.
This one’s a bit of a faff to try the Land Registry, so if anyone knows that would be a real help cheers.
Thanks to Luke for a really interesting question – if you can help, please do. Either comment here or mail me: BorwnhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.