On a bright, sunny Wednesday morning nearing 11am, the normally vibrant Highfield Farm Recreation Ground in Quinton presents a markedly different scene. The usual sounds of children playing on the equipment and climbing frame, as well as footballers on the pitch, are noticeably absent. In fact, the park is eerily quiet, with no dog walkers or locals stopping for a chat. Instead, uniformed council workers labour under the sun, having already collected around 200 bags of rubbish.
This marks the first full day since the departure of a large traveller encampment that settled in the park on 3 August. Over the seven days of occupation, an estimated 40 caravans, along with horses and dogs, used this valuable community space adjacent to Woodgate Valley and the M5 as their temporary home.
Families had largely stayed away during this period, and a scheduled council rubbish collection on Saturday was cancelled amid the disruption. Councillor Sam Forsyth described the event as “the worst incursion in terms of duration and severity.” As part of the ongoing recovery, an extensive operation is underway to clear debris and disinfect the area, focusing initially on horse droppings found near the entrance to the children’s rides.
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Among the rubbish collected were items such as a gas canister, a nail-studded stick, an invoice pad for a driveways and landscaping firm, and reels of soiled toilet paper. Councillor Forsyth explained: “The clean-up began on Saturday with volunteers; we cleared 10 bags of rubbish along Highfield Lane. However, we were unable to access the park itself due to the presence of dogs and horses. Environmental Health officers are scheduled to arrive today or tomorrow to decontaminate bushes contaminated by human, horse, and dog excrement.”
She further added that the horses were seen being walked along Dwellings Lane and even entering school grounds. As a precaution, water meters at the Stourton Lane allotments were cut off. Councillor Forsyth noted that such incidents have become a significant issue in South Birmingham due to the availability of open park spaces.
Looking ahead, efforts are focused on encouraging the public to return to the park safely. Councillor Forsyth is also exploring preventative measures against future encampments, including possible fencing or trenching. However, she recognised the challenges of restricting access, especially with local schools operating nearby, which could potentially increase traffic congestion.
Later in the morning, local resident Chris Coons, 45, and his nine-year-old son, Freddie, were among the first to return and enjoy the park, kicking a football on the courts. Chris commented, “This is our first visit since the travellers left. I had driven past several times but avoided stopping while they were here. We saw horses wandering down Highfield Lane, entering gardens, and leaving droppings.”
Freddie added, “When the horses were here, I really wanted to play but we used to go to Queens Park instead.”
A mother with her five young children also appeared relieved to be back playing in the park after a week away. She said, “I came on Tuesday and saw horses and caravans, so we went back home. This is the closest place for us, and we’re happy to be back.”