Residents of Bartley Green, Birmingham, have expressed fury after a group of travellers set up camp at Woodgate Valley County Park on Monday, June 30, the hottest day of the year. Approximately 20 caravans and mobile homes arrived at the 450-acre beauty spot, just weeks after a previous encampment left on June 12.
Local councillors Kerry Brewer and Bruce Lines described the situation as frustrating and confirmed they would seek eviction. They voiced concerns about the risk of fires from appliances used by the travellers outdoors, given temperatures exceeding 30°C.
Woodgate Valley, a designated local nature reserve, features meadows, woodland, ponds, and the River Bournbrook. Birmingham City Council stated it is committed to protecting its land and will take steps to recover it from unauthorised encampments. The council noted it has transit sites available for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, in line with government policy.
The incident follows similar occurrences across the UK, including the cancellation of a Parkrun in Bournemouth on June 28 due to an overnight traveller encampment, and outrage in Cheshire after travellers purchased a green belt field and transformed it into a gravel car park within 72 hours.
