Shoal Hill Common — Attraction in South Staffordshire

Just like a mini Chase... there are several small hills in this fairly small common with various paths you can take. Lots of deer tracks through the trees. Today I didn't see any deer but they are obviously around. It is great because you have a bit of everything here, woods with old beech trees, other woods with pines and conifers... open common land with heather and ferns and a lovely clear lake towards the middle. Generally the paths are quite dry, a little bit muddy where the horses walk, but very well drained on the hills. I walked around 6 miles by snaking round the main paths. Several car park areas near by. Lovely views over Staffordshire and over...

This place used to be beautiful. However the forestry commission have completely devastated swathes of this once serene place. A lot of it is now completely inaccessible and there seems to be no signs of putting this right. The upper areas around cannock Lake are so boggy and muddy that its practically unsafe to use. The southern half of the common around the heath land and deciduous forest where the bundle beeches are is still usable and beautiful...for now. So much for it being an Area of Outstanding...

Having walked these woods over 30 years ago I find my latest walk into Shoal Hill an ill experience. I remember more trees, species of owls, common lizards, skylarks, sparrowhawks nesting in the pines near the quarry and the great sound of silence. Now I see an overfilled car park, no rabbits because of the huge footfall and dogs off leads, footpath erosion and misguided maintenance. In order to help this fair lands carbon footprint surely the cocksparrow lane carpark...