Earlswood and Forshaw Heath
The area covered by the Residents’ Association is located between Solihull and Redditch and some 11 miles from Birmingham city centre. It is probably best described as semi rural. There are about 630 households, most of which are concentrated in four or five roads with farms and some light industrial businesses covering the rest of the area, most of which is in the Green Belt.
Local Authorities
All of Forshaw Heath and most of Earlswood come under Tanworth in Arden Parish Council, Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, and Warwickshire County Council. However, some properties on the edge of Earlswood are within Solihull Metropolitan Borough.
Transport
There is easy access to junctions 3 and 4 of the M42 and The Lakes rail station is on the Stratford to Birmingham line, with trains running hourly. However, there is no parking there. Earlswood station has some parking and Whitlocks End has a large car park and more frequent trains. The nearest station for direct trains to London is Dorridge.
There is a very limited bus service between Earlswood, Redditch and Solihull DOWNLOAD TIMETABLE HERE. UBUS is a community transport service that operates on a dial-a-bus basis. The service is for all residents of any age, wherever they may live in Stratford district, who are stuck for transport to travel locally on weekdays between 09:30 and 14:30. See https://www.stratford.gov.uk/people-communities/ubus–community-transport.cfm.
Education
The nearest schools are Tanworth in Arden C of E Primary School in Tanworth and St Patrick’s CE Primary Academy in Salter Street, Solihull, both which have nurseries attached. Warwickshire still has the 11 Plus and local children usually go to one of the following schools Henley School, Studley High, Alcester Grammar School, Alcester Academy, St Benedict’s Catholic High School Alcester, King Edward VI School for boys, Stratford and Stratford Girls’ Grammar School.
Local Services
In Earlswood village centre there are a convenience store, hairdresser, a garage – ACO Motors and The Reservoir pub. Other pubs nearby are the Red Lion and Bulls Head. The Lakes Craft Centre in Wood Lane has a variety of units, including a cafe. In Forshaw Heath there is The Limes Country Lodge Hotel and Earlswood Garden and Landscape Centre. Just outside Earlswood, on Norton Lane, you will find the Hungry Horse Animal Feeds and Ambleside Bistro and Garden Centre. Wedges Bakery is just over the canal bridge on Dyers Lane. There is a wide range of shops in and around Shirley, Solihull and Redditch.
Warwickshire County Council runs mobile and home library services which visit the area.
Medical Services
The nearest GP surgery is Tanworth in Arden Medical Practice on Broad Lane.
Recreation
Earlswood Lakes are a popular destination for walkers, and fisherman. Activities available include walking, fishing, and sailing. The lakes are a great place to spot birds including Great Crested Grebes, Widgeons and Tufted Ducks. The surrounding woodland is one of the few places where you can see/hear the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Pike can also be seen in Terry’s Pool and you might spot the occasional grass snake.
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has two reserves in Earlswood, Earlswood Moathouse and Clowes Wood and New Fallings Coppice and the Earlswood Wildlife Partnership is a partnership between local residents, Canal and River Trust (managing Earlswood Lakes) and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (managing Clowes Woods and New Fallings Coppice).
The park on Malthouse Lane has a playground, basketball area and wildflower area as well as picnic tables and a football pitch. There is a car park which has limited opening hours.
The 1st Tanworth Scout Group has Beavers, Cubs and Scouts (both boys and girls). 1st Salter Street has a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack and a Scout Troop. It is also home to one of the Districts Explorer Units – Shamrock. Rainbows and Brownies meet at both Tanworth and Cheswick Green and there are Guides groups in several locations. Contact hhdistcomm@hotmail.com for further information.
Earlswood Village Hall on Shutt Lane is used by many groups, from Parent & Toddler to Badminton and a church on Sunday. The hall is also home to Earlswood Village Museum, founded in 1977, which is open to the public on the 1st Saturday of the month from March to October. The hall is also available for private hire throughout the week. Flicks in the Sticks screens a variety of films on the third Friday of the month from September through to April.
Earlswood Town FC plays at the Pavilions, Malthouse Lane in Division 2 of the Midland Football League.
The nearest golf club is Ladbrooke Park on Poolhead Lane.