Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025

Druids Heath is just a place I pass through—a shortcut home and a fast route that I have taken many times after events at the University of Birmingham or in Selly Oak and Bournville. Passing through the area, I often wondered about the mix of tower blocks and green spaces. I remember passing a lively pub, although its name always escaped me. My drive through would last around five minutes, ending at the Maypole and onto the bypass leading to the motorway back home.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Bell’s lane. the main thoroughfare passing through Druids Heath

Druids Heath remained an enigma until I stumbled upon a National Trust post which led me to the National Trust’s Back to Backs website. There was an advert for a walking tour of the area, linked to the slum clearance projects of the 1960s, such as the Back to Backs. Sparkling new estates had sprung up during that era, with Druids Heath at the forefront. My family came from Manchester, so I never learnt about the clearance of Birmingham’s slums. However, I did have University friends who lived in the Hume crescents in the late seventies. I have many stories of visiting Hulme when a student in Manchester.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Jayne Murray, the resident artist of Place Prospectors.

The walk around Druids Heath was organised by Jayne Murray, the resident artist of Place Prospectors. We gathered at the terminus of the number 50 bus, where Jayne introduced herself and handed out a set of postcards. Each postcard was to act as a signpost for our journey around the estate. The first depicted a map and a picture of the bus stop. As we began our walk, we found ourselves on the border of the city with the green fields of Bromsgrove and Worcestershire on the other side of the road.  There was a stark contrast between the green countryside and the houses and towers of Druids Heath. The houses were built in units—some with garages and living quarters above, others resembling small terraces. Tower blocks punctuated the landscape, standing over the lower-raised houses. As we moved along, these towers became an ever-present feature, imposing themselves on the scenery.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
A typical example of low level housing in Druids Heath.

Despite the low-grade litter scattered around the estate, it was clear that many residents took pride in their homes, adding personal touches to make the place welcoming. Jayne shared background details about the area, and the postcards were a clever prompt, allowing us to see how the estate had changed over the years. For example, the land along Bells Lane was once used for farming, and remnants of its agricultural past were still visible in the bushes that had once formed natural borders.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
An example of the concrete architecture on the estate.
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Empty dustbins

We stopped at several landmarks, including the former pub called the Gladiator. Now I remember its name! Jayne explained that where there were once three pubs, there are now none, and she lamented the loss of the community spirit that disappeared with their closure. We also heard about the Dell; a large area of heathland once earmarked for development. A determined community fightback led to the cancellation of these plans, and the area is now a haven for wildlife.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The heathland of the Dell overshadowed by electricity pylons.

The final stages of the walk focused on the towers. Some have been demolished, while others stand empty, deemed unsuitable for habitation. Hillcroft House, for instance, stands vacant next to a row of shops—some are still in use, others abandoned. We passed two demolition sites: Heath House and Moundsley House. Both towers are now gone, leaving only grass in their place, with no new structures having yet been built. The library has since been replaced by the Druids Heath neighbourhood office and the youth club was still there.  Using postcards with images of the towers mid-demolition, we aligned our photos to capture the present-day view, a poignant reminder of what once stood there.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The towers impose themselves over the undelating landscape.
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Leading lines to the towers
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Hillcroft House stands empty
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Welcome to Druids Heath.
Baverstock School
The site where Moundsley House once stood.

Jayne then led us up a hill to a green metal fence enclosing a large empty space. She recounted the story of Baverstock School, once a jewel in the estate’s crown. Built in 1969, its headteacher, Mr Perks, was dedicated to giving pupils the chance for a brighter future, and the school gained numerous accolades. However, after his retirement, the school’s fortunes declined, plagued by financial mismanagement and poor governance. It closed in 2017, with bulldozers arriving in 2020. The story saddened me, and I struggled to understand how such a vibrant institution could fall into ruin. Today, all that remains is an empty space, a postcard, and memories cherished by former staff and pupils.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
There is nothing to show that Baverstock School once proudly stood here.

As we neared the end of our walk, a short footpath brought us to Kimpton Close, surrounded by three tower blocks: Saxelby, Kingswood, and Barretts Houses. Concrete buffers lay uprooted and scattered around the area. These buildings, now empty, await their fate. The 13-storey towers—used as a backdrop for the BBC drama series This Town, which explored the birth of ska in Coventry—stand as imposing relics of the past. I took many photographs, drawn to their photogenic yet haunting presence, and reflected on the families who once lived there. The setting sun seemed to know that their time was coming to an end.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The silhouettes of the three tower blocks against the setting sun.
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Looking up at Barretts House. Empty except for a few remnants of previous habitation.
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Graffiti writing on the entrance doors

Our final stop was a surprising landmark. Druids Heath is one of the highest points in Birmingham, and surrounded by the towers there was a trig point. Jayne joked that if we looked east, the next highest place would be the Ural Mountains. With the cold wind picking up on that late Saturday afternoon, I had no reason to doubt her.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The trig point in Druids Heath with the towers forming a backdrop to the landscape.

In our pack was artwork inspired by Druids Heath residents. The final postcard bore the words I am not going to panic, from the Moving Stories project. This artwork, by Jayne and Jean, one of the last residents of the Brookpiece tower block overlooking the trig point, depicted the long-reach of the proposed demolition.  The tower was in the jaws of a pincer which outlined the area. There is a lot of concern and uncertainty about what is planned to be demolished and what will replace the present buildings.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The set of postcards provided during the walking tour. The pincer artwork is in the lower left corner ©JayneMurray

We concluded our walk with a group photograph and I departed for home. Jayne and others headed to the Outpost Arts Centre for a screening of the film The Great British Housing Disaster. I later watched the film on YouTube, finding it a harrowing yet informative background to the building expansion in the sixties. The mismanagement and misplaced decision making from Government and building contractors remains a major problem to this day. Will the future lead to better things? That is a difficult question to answer based on past history of the buildings on Druids Heath.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
Taken from the Instagram account of @jaynemurrayartis
Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The lights on Pound road

On my way back to the car, I passed the mural for Druids Heath by Mohammed Ali. The golden light of the setting sun enhanced its vibrant colours. The mural’s theme of safety and compassion reflected the community’s spirit and the hope for togetherness.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The artwork by Mohammed Ali symbolising the community spirit.

At the number 50 bus stop, where two buses waited, I was reminded of the first postcard Jayne had handed out. Back home, I looked through my pack again, matching my photographs with the postcards. I would encourage anyone to visit the Moving Stories website and read about the residents’ experiences of life on the Druids Heath estate. Their words—flooding, cold, damp, frustration, and loss of hope—paint a poignant picture of the challenges they faced.

Druids Heath walking tour organised by Place Prospectors and the National Trust, Druids Heath, Birmingham, January 2025
The number 50 bus terminus.

Though Druids Heath was once just a shortcut on my way to Birmingham, this walk gave me a glimpse into its rich history, its struggles, and its community spirit. It is no longer simply a place I pass through but one I now understand more deeply.

Thank you to Jayne and the team that organised the walk around Druids Heath. Jayne was accompanied by Clare, who is an artist and former architect. Clare provided background information as to how the houses and towers were built.  I found this to be an excellent follow on from my visit to the National Trust Back to Backs property.  I have written a blog about my visit there and there is a link below.  I shall be visiting the exhibition “Moving Stories” that links with the walking tour that I described in this blog.

I have also added a link to “The Great British housing disaster” which is essential viewing. The documentary unravels the mismanagement and poor quality control of the building industry in the 1960s. The people who bore the brunt of this disaster were ordinary people many of whom lost their lives when buildings collapsed or caught fire such as the Grenfell Tower fire.

Trees in the Fog, Hay Wood, December 2024

The dull and gloomy weather over Christmas has led to several fog-drenched mornings, which have lingered throughout the day. For photographers, such conditions are ideal for adding atmosphere to compositions. I set off towards Baddesley Clinton, where the presence of the canal network generally guarantees fog. I drove to Hay Wood but stopped by the entrance to Baddesley Clinton on the way to take a picture of the tree-lined entrance. Another good spot is the public footpath on Netherwood Lane. Here, the line-up of trees with a hedge is the perfect location for a sunset picture in the summer. In the winter, the branches add different shapes to the landscape. The fog provided an eerie landscape.

Trees in the Fog, near Baddesley Clinton, December 2024
Windows in the fog. (Footpath off Netherwood Lane, near to Baddesley Clinton.)
Tree lined entrance to Baddesley Clinton, December 2024
Entrance to Baddesley Clinton with dog walker.

Hay Wood has featured in my blog over the years. There are several places in the woods that I like to visit. In spring, there is one area with a carpet of bluebells, and I wondered how it would look in the fog. I brought my tripod with me, and most of the pictures were taken using a long exposure setting, especially in the woods where the light was poor. There was some colour from the remaining leaves. The last few pictures show the oranges and greens of the wood.

Hay Wood in the fog, December 2024
Dancing Branches in the foggy landscape.
Hay Wood in the fog, December 2024
Trees standing in the fog.
Hay Wood, December 2024
Colours of winter in Hay Wood
Hay Wood, December 2024
Orange and green colours in the woodland.

I am pleased that the pictures worked out because I got a flat tyre on the way back and had to wait two hours for the recovery man to arrive. However, I was soon back home editing the pictures. You will see that I varied my black-and-white treatments, either adding a high-key effect or using lots of contrast.

Trees in the Fog, Hay Wood, December 2024
The Escape route, Hay Wood.

These are my settings for each of the pictures, tripod used where stated:-

The Escape Route
f/11, 0.4s, ISO 100 – Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 70-200mm – Tripod
Windows in the fog.
f/11, 0.3s, ISO 100 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 70-200mm – Tripod
Entrance to Baddesley Clinton
F/5.6, 1/125, ISO 320 – Fujifilm x100vi
Dancing branches.
f/11, 1s, ISO 100 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 24-70mm – Tripod
Trees standing in the fog
F/5.6, 1/125, ISO 320 – Fujifilm x100vi
Colours of winter
F/5.6, 1/100, ISO 2000 – Fujifilm x100vi
Orange and green
F/11, 0.5s, ISO 125 – Fujifilm x100vi – Tripod

As I mentioned Hay Wood has featured before in my blog and the landscape is transformed in Spring

The pool in Brueton Park Woods

When the snow first fell the skies were overcast and whilst there was a some beautiful snow scenes, I longed for a blue sky to provide some colour. The next day the sun shone and there were no clouds in the sky. I planned my walk to take me over fields to Widney Road allowing me to approach Brueton park and the nature reserve from the west.

Lea Wood in the snow
Lea Wood in the snow

My first stop was Lea Wood nature reserve which I had not visited before on my travels. The wood used to be a tree nursery and the trees now fully grown are aligned in lines. This creates many leading lines along the paths in the wood. There were several walkers in the wood so I was able to compose some eye-catching pictures with leading lines towards the silhouettes of people . The low level of the sun also produced lovely light that I was able to shoot towards the sun with the trees as a backdrop. I hung around for some time fascinated by the trees and the patterns caused by the light.

Sunlight in the woods
Sunlight in the woods
Sunlight on the tree branches
Sunlight on the tree branches
A leaning tree
A leaning tree
Snow on the trees
Snow on the trees
Trees on the way to Breuton Park
Trees on the way to Breuton Park

Finally I moved onto Brueton Park proper. It was very muddy despite the frozen ground. When I got to the river Blythe, I made the decision to go into the old Wood on the west bank to the River Blythe. The place was deserted and following the muddy path, I threaded my way deep into the wood. I arrived at the north end of the water pool which interestingly is unnamed on the map. The sun was shining brightly but the thick canopy of the trees diffused the rays. The path led around to the south side and here I was able to get close to the water’s edge. With the light low, bright and just right a beautiful scene opened up. I was so pleased with the pictures of the water and the framing from the trees. It was a richly rewarding photo walk with many different variations of the snow lying on the ground reflecting the sun. It was a much different day than yesterday and very productive.

The river Blythe
The river Blythe
Path around the pool
Path around the pool
The pool in Brueton Park Woods
The pool in Brueton Park Woods

Photo tip. Don’t be hasty in taking your pictures and try and slow down. I was very excited at first especially in Lea Wood. Then with time I started to enjoy myself in the woods and came away with many different pictures. I had my iPhone, large Canon camera with lenses plus my Fujifilm x100v. Yes it was a bit over the top in terms of photographic equipment but I was glad that I had all of them with me.

More pictures of local parks can be found on my blog
The photographic delights of Umberslade Park
Coombe Abbey Country Park during the Golden Hour
Watching the sun go down by Bracebridge pool, Sutton Park

More information
Brueton Park and its sister, Malvern is on the Solihull Council Website
Malvern and Brueton Parks
or check out Trip Advisor