Project Kingfisher
Encyclopedia
Kingfisher Country Park is a country park
in Britain. It is situated in South Birmingham
, West Midlands
. Initially designated as Project Kingfisher by Birmingham City Council
, the park was formally declared a country park in July 2004. The country park is located along an 11km stretch of the River Cole
from Small Heath to Chelmsley Wood
at the M6 motorway
.
. The project was inaugurated in 1985.
and the Solihull MBC sponsored the project in a joint venture. Charities and organisations that funded the project were:
. Within the original project, and now surrounding the country park, are several local nature reserves. These include Yorks Wood
which was declared a local nature reserve by Solihull MBC in the 1990s after purchasing it in the 1980s. The Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields in Shard End
were declared a local nature reserve in 2004 as part of a series of designations across the city by the city council. The local nature reserve covers an area of 90 hectares and is the largest local nature reserve in the city. Other nature reserves include Babbs Mill Lake
and Alcott Wood. Cole Bank, Smiths Wood, Elmdon Nature Park and Elmdon Coppice are proposed local nature reserves.
Flowing through the country park is the River Cole which forms the River Cole valley. The valley is home to different wildlife
habitat
s and different types of landscape
. The area contains a number of artificial lakes surrounded by plants ranging from grassland
, wetland
and woodland
which dates back hundreds of years. Babbs Mill Lake
in Shard End was dug to be a balancing feature in times of flooding at the river. Shard End Lake
was created as a result of an old quarry being filled with water.
The area is open to cyclists and walkers who can walk along the river towards other nearby country parks such as Shire Country Park
and also walk to other places such as the Grand Union Canal
, Coleshill
, Kingshurst Brook, Meriden Park and Sheldon Country Park.
s, kingfisher
s (note the project name), water voles and mink
. In the ponds created in Shard End
, many invertebrates have nested as well as many amphibian
s. Skylark
s have been seen around the course grassland and they have bred successfully for a number of years.
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
in Britain. It is situated in South Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
. Initially designated as Project Kingfisher by Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
, the park was formally declared a country park in July 2004. The country park is located along an 11km stretch of the River Cole
River Cole, West Midlands
The River Cole is a river in the English Midlands. It rises in Redhill, near Kings Norton, South of Birmingham. After flowing through Birmingham, it passes Coleshill, to which it gave its name. It joins the River Blythe, of which it is a tributary, near Ladywalk, shortly before the Blythe meets...
from Small Heath to Chelmsley Wood
Chelmsley Wood
Chelmsley Wood is a neighbourhood, civil parish and large housing estate in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, England, with a population of 13,010. It is located near Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre. It lies adjacent to Birmingham...
at the M6 motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
.
Project Kingfisher
The overall aim of the project was to preserve and care for the River Cole valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
. The project was inaugurated in 1985.
Funding
Both the Birmingham City CouncilBirmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
and the Solihull MBC sponsored the project in a joint venture. Charities and organisations that funded the project were:
- English NatureEnglish NatureEnglish Nature was the United Kingdom government agency that promoted the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England between 1990 and 2006...
- The Environment Agency
- Warwickshire Wildlife TrustWarwickshire Wildlife TrustThe Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is a Wildlife Trust and Registered Charity covering the county of Warwickshire and Solihull and Coventry in the county of West Midlands, England. The Trust aims to protect and enhance wildlife, natural habitats and geology throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and...
- Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country
Geography
The country park has an area of around 1000 acres (4 km²) and crosses the border between Birmingham and the Metropolitan Borough of SolihullMetropolitan Borough of Solihull
The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull is a metropolitan borough of the West Midlands, in west-central England. It is named after its largest town, Solihull, from which Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is based. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary...
. Within the original project, and now surrounding the country park, are several local nature reserves. These include Yorks Wood
Yorks Wood
Yorks Wood is an ancient wood of predominantly oak trees in Kingshurst, Solihull, England. The River Cole is located south of the wood and located within Kingfisher Country Park.-History:...
which was declared a local nature reserve by Solihull MBC in the 1990s after purchasing it in the 1980s. The Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields in Shard End
Shard End
Shard End is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a ward within the formal district of Hodge Hill. Shard End borders Castle Bromwich to the north and Kingshurst to the east which are situated in the northern part of the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough of Solihull.-Pre-War:Before the end of...
were declared a local nature reserve in 2004 as part of a series of designations across the city by the city council. The local nature reserve covers an area of 90 hectares and is the largest local nature reserve in the city. Other nature reserves include Babbs Mill Lake
Babbs Mill Lake
Babbs Mill Lake is a man-made lake located in the Kingfisher Country Park in the Kingshurst area of Solihull, England. The lake was created as a balancing feature in times of flooding from the River Cole which is located nearby....
and Alcott Wood. Cole Bank, Smiths Wood, Elmdon Nature Park and Elmdon Coppice are proposed local nature reserves.
Flowing through the country park is the River Cole which forms the River Cole valley. The valley is home to different wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
s and different types of landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
. The area contains a number of artificial lakes surrounded by plants ranging from grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
which dates back hundreds of years. Babbs Mill Lake
Babbs Mill Lake
Babbs Mill Lake is a man-made lake located in the Kingfisher Country Park in the Kingshurst area of Solihull, England. The lake was created as a balancing feature in times of flooding from the River Cole which is located nearby....
in Shard End was dug to be a balancing feature in times of flooding at the river. Shard End Lake
Shard End Lake
Shard End Lake is a man-made lake in the Shard End area of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. The lake was created out of an old quarry and is located to west of Yorks Wood. It is managed by Kingfisher Country Park....
was created as a result of an old quarry being filled with water.
The area is open to cyclists and walkers who can walk along the river towards other nearby country parks such as Shire Country Park
Shire Country Park
The Shire Country Park is a country park in the south of Birmingham, England.It is named for Tolkien's ShireIt includes Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog and parts of the River Cole.-External links:**...
and also walk to other places such as the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
, Coleshill
Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
, Kingshurst Brook, Meriden Park and Sheldon Country Park.
Nature
Animals seen along the river include heronHeron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s, kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s (note the project name), water voles and mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
. In the ponds created in Shard End
Shard End
Shard End is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a ward within the formal district of Hodge Hill. Shard End borders Castle Bromwich to the north and Kingshurst to the east which are situated in the northern part of the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough of Solihull.-Pre-War:Before the end of...
, many invertebrates have nested as well as many amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s. Skylark
Skylark
The Skylark is a small passerine bird species. This lark breeds across most of Europe and Asia and in the mountains of north Africa. It is mainly resident in the west of its range, but eastern populations are more migratory, moving further south in winter. Even in the milder west of its range,...
s have been seen around the course grassland and they have bred successfully for a number of years.