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About Smestow
A hidden oasis in the heart of the city, Smestow Valley is Wolverhampton’s first designated nature reserve and a haven for wildlife.
Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve (SVLNR) follows the natural valley of Smestow Brook alongside the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal forming a green corridor covering 51 hectares (120 acres) and approximately 4.5 kilometres long.
The canal towpath and the old railway line cross each other forming a ‘figure of eight’ loop and, along with the other paths, meadows and woodland within SVLNR, provide opportunities for a range of health and leisure activities such as walking, running, cycling, canoeing, spotting wildlife and photography.
Come and enjoy the great outdoors in the heart of the city! Our visitors enjoy this calm oasis, taking in the landscape with its’ distinctive heritage features being reclaimed by nature.
Coming soon: Find out more about the heritage of this fascinating site in the coming months. If you have areas of expertise, images relating to the history of Smestow Valley or any other information you would like to share or events you would like to run we would love to hear from you.
Contact us
Find out more about Smestow?
Visit
Come and enjoy the great outdoors in the heart of the city! Our visitors enjoy this calm oasis, taking in the landscape with its’ distinctive heritage features being reclaimed by nature. Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve has something to offer everyone throughout the whole of the year. Some paths are muddy in the winter months so please wear appropriate footwear.
Get Involved
Have your Say! Please spend a few minutes giving us your thoughts, your opinion really matters! Take our online survey, visit or volunteer at Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve.
What’s on
Visitors are welcome to visit Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve all year round and there are plenty of activities you can do on your own or with friends such as walking, cycling, running, photography and wildlife watching. As part of the project to Explore, Enhance, Protect and Promote Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve there will be a range of other activities that you can participate in. Please take a look at our calendar of events and activities.
Caring for your nature reserve
Please help to keep the nature reserve safe and pleasant for everyone to enjoy. Share the space and slow down, dogs under close control are welcome on Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve. Here you can report anti-social behaviour such as littering, flytipping, graffiti or motorbikes.
Our Partners
Find out more about the partners in the project to Explore, Enhance, Protect and Promote Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve. Our Partners.
Latest news
Here you can read the latest edition of our newsletter - June 2025.