Kingfisher Country Park Ranger Service
Shard End Community
Centre
Packington Avenue
Shard End
Birmingham
B34 7RD
Tel: 0121 748 3798
Email:
kingfisher.countrypark@birmingham.gov.uk
Project Kingfisher was formally declared Kingfisher Country Park in
July, 2004. It is associated with an 11km stretch of the River Cole
running from the Coventry Road (A45) at
Small Heath as far as the M6
at Chelmsley Wood. Inaugurated in 1985, it is a joint project sponsored
by both Birmingham City Council and Solihull MBC together with English
Nature, The Environment Agency, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the
Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. Its overall aim is
to care for the valley of the River Cole, improving it both for people
and wildlife. Kingfisher Country Park has been designated under the 'Man
and the Biosphere' programme.
The valley contains many different types of landscape and wildlife
habitats. Alongside the river there are areas of formal public open
space, tall herbs and scrub, coarse grassland, wetland with several
small ponds and ancient woodland. There are also a number of man-made
lakes. The lake at Shard End has been created in the remains of an old
gravel quarry, whilst Babbs Mill Lake in Kingshurst was formed as a
balancing feature in times of flood.
Along the river, kingfishers and herons are a common sight, feeding on
fish in the river. Water voles and mink are both associated with the
river and, more recently, otters have been recorded at the lower reaches
of the Cole.
Over the years several ponds have been dug at Shard End to make the most
of the natural wetland within the valley. These have now developed to
become wonderful havens for pond invertebrates and amphibians. Common
toads, frogs and smooth newts are to be found alongside dragonflies and
damselflies, beetles, water boatmen and water scorpions, all of which
live in and around the ponds. In winter, teals have become regular
visitors to the ponds, and wigeons have also been recorded.
Next to the pond is an area of coarse grassland where skylarks have bred
successfully for a number of years.
Yorks Wood at Kingshurst is an eleven-hectare ancient woodland.
Predominantly oak, there are records of a woodland on this site that go
back over hundreds of years. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
purchased the wood from the scout movement in the 1980s and
approximately ten years later it was declared a
Local Nature Reserve. The wood is home to a wide variety of birds, with
sparrow hawks and greater spotted woodpeckers breeding every year. In
spring the woodland floor is a carpet of bluebells. Wood anemone and
celandine are also to be found in other areas of the wood throughout
spring. Towards the end of the year many species of fungi can be found,
which helps to make the wood an all year round attraction.
All along the river there is access for the keen
walker or
cyclist. By following the river upstream you can reach the Ackers, and
further on to the
Shire Country Park, formerly known as Millstream, alternatively you can
join up with the Grand Union Canal. At the lower end of the river in
Chelmsley Wood you can continue into Coleshill and beyond. You can also
join Kingshurst Brook in Chelmsley Wood, which takes you through Meriden
Park and on into
Sheldon Country Park. There are a number of smaller circular walks within
the valley and these are contained in a booklet, which is available from
the Rangers.
Kingfisher Country Park
Rangers offer a variety of
events throughout the year such as walks. In additon we also offer
activies for
schools .
