PLEASE NOTE THIS WALK HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 15TH DECEMBER. IT WILL NO LONGER GO AHEAD ON THE 8TH.
Dudley might not be the first place people associate with hiking and outdoor adventure. It is predominantly an urban area best known for its zoo, museum and out-of-town shopping centre, but there is a wilder, rockier side to the borough too. Dudley’s geography is overwhelmingly shaped by a dramatic hill range spanning over 6 miles from Sedgley Beacon in the north to Rowley Regis in the south.
Reaching heights of over 250 meters above sea level, this rocky ridge contains an abundance of green space amongst the commercial, cultural and residential districts. It’s an extremely rich and biodiverse landscape that does indeed lend itself to the type of outdoor adventuring more associated with national parks and mountain ranges.
For this public walk, artists Daniella Turbin and Andy Howlett will be demonstrating creative ways of exploring the southern half of the Rowley/Dudley hill range. They’ll be drawing on Daniella’s experience as a long-distance walker and rock climber, and they’ll be taking inspiration from the adventures of Dudley-born mountaineer and peace campaigner Bert Bissell, AKA “God’s Mountaineer”. Please note: no mountaineering experience required! Just a good pair of walking boots.
The artists will draw on their creative practices to explore how the remarkable geology of the hills determines so much about the landscape including what sort of plants can grow, how the land is used, what animal species can make their homes here, and even which directions the local rivers flow. They’ll demonstrate the intrigue to be found in the urbanised areas as well as the green spaces and they’ll explore some unexpected connections to other locations such as Ben Nevis, the Humber Bridge and Ancient Rome.
Join Andy and Daniella at 10am on Sunday 15th December (postponed from the 8th) at the Wolverhampton Road entrance to Bury Hill Park in Oldbury, B69 2BJ. The walk is about 5.5 miles long, finishing up at the market place on Dudley High Street at around 3:30pm. The walk is free to attend but booking is essential.
The terrain includes roads, pavements, rocky footpaths, grassy areas, stiles, steps and considerable inclines. Please dress accordingly for a winter walk and be prepared for some muddy sections. Bring a packed lunch as we’ll be stopping for a break at Bumble Hole nature reserve. Toilet facilities can be found at The Lakeside pub/restaurant near the start of the walk (if you ask nicely), at Bumble Hole visitor centre at the half way point, and in various establishments in Dudley town centre at the end.
This event is commissioned by Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust as part of their project Dudley’s Path to Nature Recovery.
Walkspace 