West Midlands

Located in west-central England, the West Midlands is the second most populous county after Greater London, including cities such as Birmingham, Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Solihull. Geographically, the basin within which most of the county sits is the most urbanised in the UK, at 42%. However, there are also rural areas. For example, Coventry is separated from the urban area with greenbelt land stretching 15 miles (24 km) across, known as the Meriden Gap. The highest point in the West Midlands is one of 23 Sites of Special Scientific Interest – Turners Hill, standing at a height of 271m (889 ft). Another notable SSSI location in the county is Sutton Park, which is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, with an area of 970 hectares (2,400 acres). 

The climate in West Midlands is temperate, with average lows of 7°C and highs of 17°C. Rainfall is relatively even throughout the year, with sunshine hours increasing from May to July. This makes the region an excellent area for homeowners looking to propagate homegrown fruit and veg, and grow healthy lawns.