Road and a parting in a housing estate indicates the course of the stream, despite being underground. It resurfaces soon after into several small pools, which were formerly reservoirs, The reservoirs still provide water to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. The area was designated nature reserve status in March 1991, as Plantsbrook Local Nature Reserve, and covers an area of . From there, the brook is culverted southwards, emerging just before its confluence with the Tame. History The course of the river has changed very little during its known history. When Sutton Coldfield was a separate district to Birmingham, it provided a major source of water for the residents. To the affluent members of society living in Sutton Coldfield, it was contested over. Landowners were very restrictive in letting others use the stream. One such person was William Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. However, in 1288, he allowed Thomas de Arden, owner of Peddimore Hall, to fish in the stream on Beauchamp's land. A survey of the stream was conducted by the Applied Hydrobiology Section of Aston University in 1972, into the wildlife of the stream. The results showed that it was relatively unpolluted and was well aerated. The soft acid waters supported various species such as crayfish, nymphs, stoneflies, mayflies and fresh water shrimps. Minnows were also found to be living in the stretch of water between Blackroot Pool and Town Gate. Features on the course References Rivers of the West Midlands (county) Geography of Birmingham, West Midlands Sutton Coldfield 1Plants