The brook runs for part of its course parallel to Friary Road in the shallow valley at a
distance of around two to three hundred yards away and marks the boundary of the Friary
Road Allotment site. Its course takes it from one source adjacent to Handsworth Cemetery
taking in other streams which add to its function as the main surface drainage of the
local area. It has been channelled in a man-made dyke and flows right through to Silvercroft
Ave beneath the road and out and along the fields behind Grestone Ave in its way to join the
River Tame at Hamstead. Normally a quite friendly and placid stream in the event of storm it
becomes a rushing torrent and fortunately only on rare occasions will overflow to the
consternation of allotment holders including myself where gardens are alongside the brook.
Storm water is collected from the roads, the brook acting as an open drain to draw off the
surplus water. As its name implies large thorn trees grow on its banks where the course
takes it though the fields. They are a glorious sight in blossom time. The brook never runs
dry even in times of drought. Wild flowers in great variety can be found where before the
present pollution aspects the kingfisher was once to be seen.
