The Breeding Pool and Boating Lake at Cannon Hill Park

Here we look at the main lake in Cannon Hill Park. Starting with the Breeding Pool, we then go onto the main Boating Lake. Usually attracting the usual gulls, geese, swans, ducks etc. The lake closest to The MAC is used as a Boating Lake. In recent years there has been Swan Lake Boats close to The MAC. This replaced the old paddle boats that used to be in the lake until 2016.

In this post we look at the main lake in Cannon Hill Park. Called the Boating Lake. But at the southern end is the Breeding Pool. This lake runs parallel to the River Rea and Queens Ride. You would find The MAC to the north of the Boating Lake (rebuilt in 2009-10). Swan Lake Boating opened in 2016 along with a Fun Park from Green Space Leisure. Halfway in the middle of the lake is a metal bar which various birds usually perch on (mostly gulls). Paths on both sides for walking, walking your dog, pushing your childs pushchair, running and cycling. Even kids in scooters, or rollerskates or skateboards etc.

 

Breeding Pool

The Breeding Pool in Cannon Hill Park seen during November 2009. It is near the Ornamental Bridge. Mostly gulls at this end at the time.

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The bridge is Grade II listed and dates to 1875. Made of red bricks and stone dressings.

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Gulls around the Breeding Pool near the bridge.

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The bridge leads to the Queens Ride.

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This view of the Ornamental Bridge if you were coming from the Queens Ride end. There is also a bridge over the River Rea, but just has those painted metal railings. One of the paths from the Rea Valley Route is to the right (leads to Holders Lane Woods).

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It was foggy / misty at the Breeding Pool during April 2018.

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Just about see the tree island in the middle of the lake at the time.

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The ornamental bridge seen during August 2019. Some geese in there at the time.

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In February 2020, there was a black Great Cormorant in the middle of the bird bars, with a line of gulls either side of it.

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The Great Cormorant was an unusual site in Cannon Hill Park.

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But was nice to see a bird that you don't normally see here, other than the usual gulls. There was at least two Great Cormorant there that day.

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In May 2020 as the lockdown restrictions were eased. Passed the Breeding Pool when I saw a Canada geese family with their newborn babies.

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So cute! The proud Canada geese parents and their newborn gosling in the Breeding Pool.

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There was about 7 baby gosling there on the banks of the pool. They will grow fast.

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View of the Ornamental Bridge towards Queens Ride. Rare for it to be empty like this, but it was in the morning before more people arrived for their daily form of exercise in the park.

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Boating Lake

In April 2011, and a view up the Boating Lake towards The MAC.

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A pair of Canada geese near the edge of the lake.

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Always loads of Canada geese around here.

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There is a bar in the middle of the lake between the boating side and the Breeding Pool. Usually birds perched on the bars.

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There is paths both sides of the lake to walk or cycle around.

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The MAC was rebuilt in 2009 and reopened in a new building in 2010.

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View of The MAC with the Boating Lake.

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In January 2013, snow had fallen all over Birmingham and that included at Cannon Hill Park. The Boating Lake near The MAC was completely frozen and covered in snow and ice.

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Even the paths were icy at the time. There may have been birds at the far end of the lake, but not at this end at the time.

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Paddle boat on the Boating Lake in December 2013 as a gull flew past it.

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Swan Boats seen in June 2016. This opened in May 2016 and is called Swan Lake Boating. Close to The MAC. Replaced the old paddle boats that used to be used here.

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Swan paddle boats for four people to paddle about in the lake. It's part of the Fun Park from Green Space Leisure. Small rollercoaster nearby.

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The summer drought during July 2018 when grass all over the City had lost it's green and had gone a dry yellowy colour.

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At the time the Birmingham Thai Festival was being set up on the lawn near the lake. It was held on the weekend of the 28th and 29th July 2018. It hadn't rained for a month and it was quite hot.

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This view of the Swan Boats during May 2019. You can see where they store the orange life jackets behind.

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A pair of Swan Boats seen in use in the Boating Lake during August 2019. Seems like there is room for 4 people were boat and they have to wear orange life jackets.

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In February 2020, I saw all these gulls flying about above the Boating Lake towards The MAC.

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It was quite a sight to see all the gulls flying all over the place. Could even see a floodlight at Edgbaston Cricket Ground behind The MAC.

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Slightly more calm now as the gulls came to land in the lake to the left of The MAC.

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The May 2020 walk past the Boating Lake, while it was quite on lockdown (before the crowds arrived in the morning). The path was empty, and the grass mown.

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Saw another Canada geese family near the lakeside. At least three baby Gosling here. How cute! And some ducks.

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No boats are allowed to be used during lockdown, so just the birds in the lake (and fish if there are any under the water).

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But for your daily form of exercise, you can run or ride a bike (or just walk). The play area near The MAC is of course closed.

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People socially distancing on the benches, while a man rides his bike past the Artists Studios site (was the Peoples Postcode Lottery Arena at The MAC).

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Swan Lake Boating is closed during the pandemic / lockdown period we are in. The boats are 4 seaters. The Peoples Postcode Lottery Arena is being replaced next to The MAC by an Artists Studio

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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