Residents in Quinton, south Birmingham, are voicing anger and concern after a group of travellers broke through a gate to set up an illegal encampment of more than 20 caravans at Highfield Lane recreational park. The incident occurred on a Monday afternoon, with footage showing numerous caravans, trucks, and vehicles entering the park.
Horses were observed stabled in a children's play area as the encampment spread across the park, a site frequently used by dog walkers and families. Reports indicate that bolt cutters and angle grinders were used to breach a lock to gain access. This marks the second time the site has been targeted in less than two years, with a previous encampment leaving behind significant waste.
Locals fear a repeat of the previous incident, which reportedly left the area strewn with faeces, litter, and nappies. "It's just a constant nightmare and it's getting worse," said Mike Clarke, a resident who runs a local community page. He noted that the caravans continue to arrive, with the number exceeding 20. The park serves as a primary entrance to Birmingham's Woodgate Valley Country Park, a 450-acre area of natural beauty that has now become largely inaccessible due to the encampment.
Local councillor Sam Forsyth stated that the main entrance has been blocked off, preventing public access to the area, which is now occupied by approximately 30 caravans, horses, and trucks. She emphasized the safety concerns and the impact on regular park users, including dog walkers and families. "The travellers destroy the grassland when they go in but the bigger problem is the waste and mess that they leave because it's human and dog excrement and glass bottles. Sometimes dogs are even left tied up," Forsyth said.
The arrival of the encampment coincides with a planned litter collection event. A dozen tip trucks were scheduled to visit Highfield Lane to collect household rubbish, garden waste, and recycling as part of a Birmingham City Council initiative to combat fly-tipping. Residents had been anticipating this service, but now fear it will be cancelled. Forsyth indicated that the visit on Saturday is likely to be called off.
Birmingham has experienced a notable increase in unauthorized encampments. Data for 2025-26 revealed that council officers dealt with 132 unauthorized encampments involving 2,280 caravans, representing a significant rise from the previous year. The city has seen multiple encampments in various locations, including West Heath, Stockland Green, Yardley, Sheldon, Kings Norton, and Kings Heath. These incidents follow the scrapping of a council program that aimed to allocate unused council land for travelling communities, a decision met with backlash.
West Midlands Police have confirmed they are aware of the situation on Highfield Lane and are working with partners to resolve it. "We're aware of travellers on the recreation ground on Highfield Lane, Quinton, and we are liaising with our partners to resolve the situation," a police spokesperson stated.