Council digs trenches around park to stop travellers setting up illegal camp - days after group broke onto nearby recreation ground for second time in a month

Do YOU have a story? Email fran.wolfisz@dailymail.co.uk See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 05:48 EDT, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 05:48 EDT, 27 August 2026 A council has resorted to digging trenches to stop travellers setting up an illegal camp at a Birmingham park just days after other encampments were spotted at nearby green spaces.Convoys of caravans have repeatedly driven onto Chinn Brook Recreation Ground, in Yardley Wood without permission in recent years, according to residents.They have also been seen at Daisy Farm, less than a mile away, as well as Northfield and Swanshurst Park, which are both located around five miles away.Thousands have been spent by the local authority securing evictions and cleaning up the areas, with the groups simply moving onto other public spaces a few miles away. Now council workers have dug a ditch and formed an embankment across the front of the park as a short-term measure to prevent further access in the run up to the Bank Holiday.Councillors Joe Peacock and Chris Garghan from Billesley Greens said: 'We welcome the temporary measures being put in place around the park, but we are pushing to get more permanent defences in place as soon as possible.'We've seen multiple instances of unauthorised encampments on the park this summer.'We've had residents tell us they have felt intimidated or threatened and do not feel safe using the park while they are there. A council has resorted to digging trenches to stop travellers setting up an illegal camp at Chinn Brook Recreation Ground, in Yardley Wood, Birmingham Convoys of caravans have repeatedly driven onto the green space in recent years and set up illegal encampments A travellers' convoy was spotted in nearby Swanshurst Park (pictured) on Monday Local authorities say thousands have been spent securing evictions and cleaning up the areas. Pictured: Swanshurst Park on Monday'Local volunteer clean-up groups have been pushed to the brink with the effort of cleaning up the rubbish left behind.'These trenches are designed to make accessing the park with large vehicles and caravans difficult whilst still giving access to council lawn mowers and the like.'We have been told that concrete blocks/bollards are on order to make accessing the gate even more difficult.'The final designs for improvements to defences as part of works to 32 of the city's parks and green spaces are currently being discussed and we hope to share them with residents as soon as possible'.Around half a dozen caravans accompanied by a horsebox and horses drove onto Chinn Brook Recreation Ground on August 18. They were subsequently served with an eviction notice.Then on Monday, residents reported on social media that the travellers had returned to Swanshurst Park. Local resident John Pedley, 59, who is also a volunteer litter picker, said: 'Hopefully it will stop the travellers from getting onto Chinn Brook Rec, as they cause so much mess - and have no regard for the wildlife and community and around them.'The council has been contacted for comment.