If you’re looking for something to do and need a bit of inspiration, here are some of the loveliest and/or most interesting places in and around Lichfield. And they’re all free. If you want more information on any of these, just ask!
Wall Roman Site – Foundations of a Roman Inn & Bathhouse. See if you can find the dog’s paw print on one of the tiles! Free access to site 10 – 5 every day. Free museum open -April; 2-4, 23-25, 30-31 May; 27-28 June; 12, 19, 25-26 July; 2, 9, 16, 23, 29-31 August; 26-27 September; 24-25 October, 11am-4pm.
Off Eastbound A5 at Wall, near Lichfield, WS14 0AW
Arriva Midland service 35B
Monks Walk – A beautiful garden hidden away behind Lichfield Library at The Friary WS13 6QG. Free access all year round.
Pipe Green – Medieval meadowland designated a site of biological importance. Bird watching,wild flowers, deer at Maple Hayes, views of the Cathedral, Medieval moated site near the Abnalls Lane entrance and Leomansley Brook runs through if you fancy a paddle. More info on how to access here http://www.pipegreentrust.org/home/map
Wooddhouse Community Farm, on the outskirts of Whittington (WS13 8QG), is a social enterprise producing eggs, rare breed meat, fruit and veg. Once part of the Fisherwick estate, there are still traces of the Capability Brown landscape here (including a ha-ha, orangery and a huge walled garden), lovely views of the River Tame, guarded by a WW2 pillbox and it’s a great place for wildlife watching. The farm is open for people to drop in on 2 – 6 on Tuesdays and Saturdays each week. There’s a farm shop and also a picnic and community area on-site. More info here
Elford Hall Garden is a restored Edwardian walled garden, that had been earmarked for residential development until it was saved and transformed by a group of volunteers.The garden, which belonged to the now demolished Elford Hall, is open to the public all year round and has community allotments, a rose garden, a sensory garden, a riverside walk and a picnic area. Directions & more info here http://elfordhallgarden.org/contact/
Leomansley Wood is small, replanted ancient woodland accessible off Christchurch Lane (WS13 8AL). Lovely all year round but especially when the bluebells and other wild flowers are out in the Spring.
Castle Ring is an Iron Age fort, scheduled as an ancient monument and also a site of scientific interest. Here be dragonflies, butterflies, lizards and adders, along with several species of rare plant including the Cannock Chase berry! More info and directions here
A local nature reserve off Eastern Avenue in North Lichfield, where legend has it that the massacre of 1,000 Christian Martyrs took place. You can walk across the Field of the Dead and through the surrounding woodland to Elmhurst, via a Saxon walkway known as a ‘dimble’.
More info here
A Woodland Trust site on the Burntwood/Lichfield border from where you can get great views of the city and you can also find the restored medieval conduit head which once supplied water to the Cathedral Close. Dog walking heaven too. More info here
Adventures in Lichfield 