Harborne Walkway (Friends of)
The Harborne Walkway is a 1.5 mile stretch which runs from Forest Drive and Park Hill Road Harborne entrances to Summerfield Park. It is a linear park and the responsibility of the Council Parks Department. It passes by allotments and the Harborne Bird Sanctuary following the old railway line. It’s a nice atmospheric stroll with shady woodland, embankments, wide verges and across or under 6 bridges. The path is well surfaced and forms part of an easy route, safe for cyclists and walkers, which carries on into Summerfield Park.
Taking the south west exit out of Summerfield Park you are less than 150 yards to reach an entrance to the Edgbaston Reservoir. Taking the north east exit you are less than 200 yards to reach an entrance for the Birmingham Mainline Canal towpath leading to Brindley Place and the city centre.
The Friends started work in October 2018 to liaise with each other and do practical things, including volunteer litter picking; to support the improvement of The Walkway; to encourage considerate use by the different categories of Walkway users – different in terms of age, culture, enthusiasm for walking, with and without dogs, jogging, cycling and with particular consideration for the interests of children and those with disabilities.
The Friends are a voice for the Walkway to support and encourage the City Council and liaise with them in terms of safety , gardening , cleaning and maintenance issues; to liaise informally with the local police in relation to security and antisocial behaviour issues; to organise occasional events. The group aims to be a forum for raising thoughts and ideas for the Walkway and its improvement.
Visitors to Harborne Walkway are welcome!
We hope that you find this FHW page informative, interesting and worth a browse. It has been subject to a full review in 2023 to keep it relevant and up to date.
Friends of Harborne Walkway – Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you become a Friend?
Membership of the Friends is free and without obligation. To join our email circulation group and receive our monthly news letter and occasional email information about Walkway activities send an email to our Secretary, [email protected] with ‘Friends of the Harborne Walkway’ as the email’s subject. He will add you to the email circulation group. If you subsequently decide that membership is not for you then send him an email asking to be removed from the group and that will be done.
2. How do the Friends communicate with each other?
FHW News mentioned above has a circulation of 350 and rising. Readers/ Friends contributions, suggestions and letters are welcomed.
At the bottom of this page there is a link to our Facebook group which is mainly used for shorter current messages and news + photos. Importantly we greet, talk to each other and raise issues on the Walkway itself. The path is just over 2 yards wide and encourages friendly exchanges. We are not so keen on formal or bureaucratic meetings and have no plans for zoom meetings. If you are litter picking you often get friendly thank you’s and enquiries.
3. Do the Friends supply equipment such as litter pickers?
The Friends do not have a budget for supplying equipment. Our volunteers bring their own equipment, litter pickers are cheaply available (from £3+) to buy from shops on the high-street (i.e. Home Bargains) or online.
4. There is a tunnel with an echo under the Hagley Rd. Would security lighting in the tunnel be appropriate?
No – it is a bat migration route.
Friends of Harborne Walkway online resources:
2. FHW Group Litter Picks – Normal Arrangements
3. FHW Foundation Document – Scope and Type of Organisation, Mission Statement etc.
4. FHW Summary Report for just over our first 4 years – since October 2018 to December 2022
7. Friends of the Harborne Walkway Safeguarding Policy
9. Elf and Safety Reminder, particularly for school holidays
11. The Walkway’s Railway History
Seasons on the Walkway
