Highfield Farm Recreation Ground in Quinton is being cleaned after a traveller encampment that lasted seven days and involved roughly 40 caravans, horses, and dogs. The encampment arrived on August 3 and departed, leaving behind litter and excrement that now requires a council clean-up operation.
Clean-up under way
Uniformed council staff have already gathered 200 sacks of litter. The clean-up began on Saturday with volunteers, who filled 10 bags of rubbish along Highfield Lane. Environmental Health is expected to decontaminate the bushes of human, horse, and dog poo.
Councillor Sam Forsyth described the encampment as "the worst incursion in terms of duration and severity." Among the debris are a gas canister, a nail-embedded stick, an invoice book for a driveways and landscaping company, and rolls of soiled toilet tissue.
Disruption to residents
During the seven days, horses visited people's front gardens, and council refuse trucks cancelled a Saturday morning collection. Water meters at Stourton Lane allotments were cut off. Horses also went into school grounds.
Coun Forsyth said the problem is worsening in South Birmingham because of open parks. She is exploring ways to prevent another invasion, including fencing the park off completely or building ditches, though she noted that closing it off could cause more traffic, especially when schools return.
Residents return
Chris Coons, 45, and his nine-year-old son Freddie were among the first to return. Coons said they had driven past during the encampment but would not stop while it was there. Freddie said they went to Queens Park instead.
A mother with five young children also returned, saying she had come on Tuesday, seen the horses and caravans, and gone back home. She added: "This the closest place and we are happy to be back."
