{"id":3719,"date":"2025-11-26T08:44:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T08:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/?p=3719"},"modified":"2025-11-26T08:45:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T08:45:01","slug":"charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3719-charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham","title":{"rendered":"Charity, greening and rare animals in the heart of Birmingham"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The land on which Cannon Hill Park now stands was once part of the extensive estates belonging to the Ryland family. In 1873, Miss Louise Anne Ryland, who was then living in Warwickshire, donated just over 57 acres of meadowland, which was part of her villa built on a hill overlooking them, to the park. Incidentally, these meadows are still known locally as Cannon Hill Fields.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefactor donated all of this to the Birmingham Council in trust. Louise Ryland hoped that the park would not only become a source of healthy recreation for the residents of Birmingham, but that they would protect and preserve what was now their property. More details here: <a href=\"http:\/\/birminghamname.com\">birminghamname.com<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a05487f31474\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a05487f31474\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3719-charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham\/#The_history_of_Cannon_Hill_Park\" >The history of Cannon Hill Park<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3719-charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham\/#Kew_Gardens\" >Kew Gardens<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3719-charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham\/#Birmingham_Wildlife_Park\" >Birmingham Wildlife Park<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/eternal-3719-charity-greening-and-rare-animals-in-the-heart-of-birmingham\/#The_significance_of_Cannon_Hill_Park\" >The significance of Cannon Hill Park<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_history_of_Cannon_Hill_Park\"><\/span>The history of Cannon Hill Park<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"970\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-300x182.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-768x466.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1536x931.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-696x422.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1068x647.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is believed that Cannon Hill got its name from the day when Royalist troops camped there on their way to the Battle of Naseby in June 1645. However, this name only applies to the park itself and, possibly, its immediate surroundings. The park was designed, or as they say, laid out by John T. Gibson, who also designed Battersea Park in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The following facts speak to the scale of Cannon Hill Park. John Gibson was one of the most prominent park designers of his time, and also served as the head of a number of municipal parks in London. At Cannon Hill, he created two large lakes, which are still in the park today, as well as several smaller decorative ponds and a swimming pool with changing rooms. The swimming pool no longer exists. In addition, 35 acres of meadows were given over to ornamental gardens and shrub borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All this took place on land known as Cannon Hill Fields, which was part of the Mosley estate owned by heiress Louise Anne Ryland. Subsequently, the lady paid for the work to establish the park and, having drained the marshes at her own expense, transferred everything to the Birmingham City Council. At the same time, she made it a condition that the newly created grove should not be named after her. Later, in 1897, following Louise Ryland&#8217;s example, local brewer John Holder added another 7 acres of land to the park, donating it to the city. Lord Calthorp of Edgbaston also participated in the expansion of Cannon Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, the park has been used as a venue for various celebrations, such as the Tulip Festival, the Highland Gathering, the Lord Mayor&#8217;s Show, Eid al-Fitr, the Taste of Birmingham Festival and many sporting events. In addition, Cannon Hill boasts an original Victorian bandstand. Its construction dates back to around 1880. It is made of cast iron, has an octagonal shape and is a Grade II listed building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, American bush dogs. From the name, it is clear that this wild species of canid lives somewhere across the ocean, in the forests and savannahs of Central and South America. It has short legs, a stocky body and webbed feet. The animals capture the imagination, because it&#8217;s not every day you see something that looks like a cross between a bear and a puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that there are so many animals here that it would take a long time to count them all. A few words about the general favourites, the stars of the zoo \u2014 the local monkeys. There are a huge number of them here. This allows these amazing animals to play with each other in a funny way right in front of visitors. Golden lion tamarins are especially popular. They are not afraid of anyone, they are not shy, and they constantly come up to the walls of their enclosures to play with people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kew_Gardens\"><\/span>Kew Gardens<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1-696x465.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-1-1068x713.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the <a href=\"https:\/\/brooklyn-future.com\/uk\/eternal-4964-atmosfernyj-park-bruklinskogo-mostu-rekonstrukcziya-budivnycztvo-stalyj-rozvytok\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">park&#8217;s<\/a> living inhabitants, the trees along Queens Ride were planted in memory of the 250 young men, members of the Scout Movement, who died in the First World War. The local River Rhine now flows past the park, \u201chidden\u201d in a brick culvert. Cannon Hill has a very rich collection of plants, which local students used to study botany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, the planting of plants was supervised by local botanist Joseph Oliver. Many of the seeds and plants used to create these ornamental gardens were provided by Kew Gardens. It should be noted that the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, are a botanical institution world-renowned for their stunning plant collection and vital contribution to science. Kew covers an area of 326 acres and offers a variety of landscapes, including temperate and tropical greenhouses, native woodlands and spacious lawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the most interesting places are the iconic water lily buildings, where palm trees grow and a suitable climate has been created, the treetop walkway, the Great Pagoda and the Royal Palace. With over 50,000 plant species, Kew is a world leader in plant conservation and research. An interesting fact is that in 1985, Sir David Attenborough buried a time capsule in the foundations of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The capsule contains seeds of major food crops and species that are threatened with extinction. It is to be dug up in 2085, when many of the plants it contains may be rare or extinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that Cannon Hill turned to this botanical garden for help during its development and subsequent improvement speaks volumes about the seriousness of the approach taken in creating this park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Birmingham_Wildlife_Park\"><\/span>Birmingham Wildlife Park<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2-696x465.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-2-1068x713.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To complement the idyllic picture in Cannon Hill, another park was created \u2014 Birmingham Wildlife Park. It is located, so to speak, at the base of Cannon Hill, and here you can explore representatives of wildlife from almost all over the world. What makes this exploration particularly interesting is the fact that all of these animals live in the heart of Birmingham. Isn&#8217;t this convenient for a family holiday, especially when the family has several small children?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite its rather long and perhaps academic name, Birmingham residents actually call it a \u201chidden gem.\u201d It is home to a variety of animals, including red pandas, lemurs, meerkats, otters, wallabies, reptiles, birds, and a large collection of monkeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walking through Birmingham Wildlife Park, you can&#8217;t help but notice that there are many animals here that you would not expect to see in the heart of Birmingham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, American bush dogs can be included in this category. From the name, it is clear that this wild species of canines lives somewhere across the ocean, in the forests and savannahs of Central and South America. It has short legs, a stocky body and webbed feet. These animals capture the imagination, because it&#8217;s not every day you see something that looks like a cross between a bear and a puppy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be noted that there are so many animals here that it would take a long time to count them all. A few words about the general favourites, the stars of the zoo \u2014 the local monkeys. There are a huge number of them here. This allows these amazing animals to play with each other in a comical way right in front of visitors. The golden lion tamarins are particularly popular. They are not afraid of anyone, are not shy, and constantly approach the walls of their enclosures to play with people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_significance_of_Cannon_Hill_Park\"><\/span>The significance of Cannon Hill Park<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1063\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3-300x199.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3-768x510.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3-1536x1020.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3-696x462.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/cdn.birminghamname.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/11\/image-3-1068x710.jpeg 1068w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is therefore clear that Cannon Hill Park, like Birmingham Wildlife Park, plays a vital role in global efforts to conserve both flora and fauna. The latter is a full member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, as well as a similar pan-European association, and actively contributes to European species conservation programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Birmingham Wildlife Park is home to many animals that are endangered in the wild. In addition, the park works closely with other zoos to protect and support healthy populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Cannon Hill, all visitors can enjoy not only the beautiful surroundings but also the park&#8217;s historical landmarks. For example, there is a large-scale model of the Elan Valley reservoirs in the form of decorative ponds, located in the Japanese garden near the Midland Arts Centre. It was built in the 1960s. You can also see glacial erratic boulders that were deposited on the ground about 350,000 years ago during the Anglian Ice Age, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the main attraction of the park is its plants, which delight Birmingham residents and help them by making the air around them cleaner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/visitbirmingham.com\/listing\/birmingham-wildlife-conservation-park\/21159101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/visitbirmingham.com\/listing\/birmingham-wildlife-conservation-park\/21159101\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birmingham.gov.uk\/info\/20089\/parks\/1680\/cannon_hill_park\/3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.birmingham.gov.uk\/info\/20089\/parks\/1680\/cannon_hill_park\/33<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/whats-on\/family-kids-news\/went-birminghams-hidden-gem-zoo-26252058\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/whats-on\/family-kids-news\/went-birminghams-hidden-gem-zoo-262520588<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The land on which Cannon Hill Park now stands was once part of the extensive estates belonging to the Ryland family. In 1873, Miss Louise Anne Ryland, who was then living in Warwickshire, donated just over 57 acres of meadowland, which was part of her villa built on a hill overlooking them, to the park. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":3720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[335],"tags":[2125,2357,2359,2354,1558,2349,2347,2356,2350,2358,2348,2355,2351,2352,2346,2353],"motype":[325],"moformat":[18],"moimportance":[30,33],"class_list":{"0":"post-3719","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-innovations","8":"tag-birmingham","9":"tag-birmingham-charity-park","10":"tag-birmingham-green-area","11":"tag-birmingham-green-park","12":"tag-birmingham-parks","13":"tag-green-area","14":"tag-green-park","15":"tag-green-park-history","16":"tag-lakes-in-the-park","17":"tag-park-3","18":"tag-park-construction","19":"tag-park-history","20":"tag-park-premises","21":"tag-ponds","22":"tag-public-park","23":"tag-unique-park","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-vlasna","26":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","27":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/319"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3719"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3735,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3719\/revisions\/3735"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3719"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3719"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3719"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birminghamname.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}