The Stourbridge Canal - Saltwells Nature Reserve

 

The 115 acres include Saltwells Wood and the former Doulton's Claypit - now a site of considerable botanical interest. The Blackbrook Valley Walk which follows the canal for most of its way from Parkhead here departs through the Reserve to end south of Mushroom Green near the end of the Stour Valley Walk. There are several pleasant walks through the heath and woodland and also around the adjacent Lodge Farm Reservoir. This used to supply the canal but is now used for sailing and water-skiing.

 

The canal skirts the Reserve and passes through a deep cutting which was originally a tunnel, hence its name - 'Brewin's Tunnel' - Brewin being a former engineer to the canal company. Near the 'High' or 'Sounding Bridge' the remains of a short canal arm can be seen where the clay from the pits used to be loaded onto boats.