Kingsbury Linear Park
Warwickshire Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation: Local Wildlife Sites
Evaluation Form
Site Name: Kingsbury Linear Park
Site Ref: SP29D
Local Authority Area: North Warwickshire BC
Site description:
Grid Ref: SP218962
Date Selected:
Managed: no
Area:
The LWS comprises a small public open space recently created within the southern half of
Kingsbury village. It occupies a narrow corridor of open land on either side of the Hurley Brook, a
tributary of the River Tame; and is being bordered to the north and south by new housing estates,
to the west by the A51 Tamworth-Coventry Road, and to the east by the mainline BirminghamBurton-on-Trent railway.
The area was formerly occupied by small damp pasture fields crossed by the alder lined brook, but
the site has now been partly landscaped with a network of paths laid out and some blocks of young
woodland planted as screening at the eastern end. The pasture has been left to nature and is now
very rough with extensive areas of wet glyceria/carex marsh and tall herb. The few remnants of
hedgerow have been allowed to develop into belts of scrub. Since the initial landscaping there
appears to be no ongoing habitat management.
The site occupies a level narrow flood plain 500m east of the River Tame, and is subject to
localised flooding. The underlying geology consists of alluvial deposits.
Marsh and wet grassland are the most important habitats within the LWS, with all significant
blocks of this habitat occurring north of the brook. The most extensive area is situated at the
western end of the park, where it is crossed by a well-used cycle and footpath. This area is mainly
dominated by low Reed Sweet-grass, but with Brown Sedge also abundant locally. In the corner
below the Coventry Road, impeded drainage has allowed a large stand of Common Reedmace
swamp to develop.
Further to the east in the centre of the park there is a smaller area of marsh dominated by Lesser
Pond-sedge and Reed Canary Grass. In the north-east of the park bordering another path is a
slightly more extensive marsh again dominated by Reed Sweet-grass and Brown Sedge. Joining up
these areas of marsh and surrounding them are extensive areas of rank grass and tall herb
occupying slightly drier but still frequently inundated land. These areas are dominated by abundant
Common Nettle, Great Willowherb, Creeping Thistle and Meadowsweet, with abundant Creeping
Bent, Marsh Birdsfoot-trefoil, Meadow Vetchling, Amphibious Bistort, Creeping Buttercup and
Hairy Sedge in the more open grassy areas. Other species associated with this habitat include
locally frequent Common Knapweed, Marsh Thistle, Tufted Hair-grass, Common Spike-rush,
Hoary and Square-stemmed Willowherbs, Field Horsetail, Jointed, Soft and Hard Rushes, Water
Mint, Common Sorrel, Meadow Buttercup and Water Figwort. Occasional species include Wild
Angelica, False Fox-sedge, Marsh Horsetail, Yellow Iris and Compact Rush.
The drier grassland areas, of which the most extensive are south of the brook, are less diverse and
mainly dominated by coarse grasses such as False Oat-grass, Cocksfoot and Common Couch, with
local patches of Tufted Hair-grass. Forbs are much scarcer. Extensive invasion of the grassland by
Bramble and tall Herb such as Common Nettle, Great Willowherb and Creeping Thistle is
progressing unchecked, and this has been followed by the beginnings of scrub invasion.
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Kingsbury Linear Park
The brook which meanders through the park is bordered by narrow strips of Alder woodland, with
a slightly more extensive area of mature Crack Willow carr at the western end on either side of the
bridge. Both areas of woodland are secondary in character. The shrub layer is not well established
in either and mainly confined to occasional Hawthorn, sallow and Elder, with rare Ash, Hazel and
Crab Apple. The field layer is luxuriant and dominated by Garlic Mustard, Cow Parsley, Cleavers,
Common Nettle, Common Couch, Bramble and Ivy, with locally frequent Bearded Couch, Herb
Bennet, Ground-ivy and Hedge Woundwort. Other species are rare-occasional and mainly
confined to the banks of the brook, and these include Wild Angelica, Wavy Bittercress, Pendulous
Sedge, Remote Sedge, Broad Buckler-fern, Herb Robert, Blackcurrant and Red Campion. The
brook is largely shaded and quite sluggish and silted, but does contain locally frequent Common
Water-starwort, and occasional small patches of Fool’s Watercress, Common Watercress and
Brooklime.
Scrub habitats are most extensive in the drier parts of the eastern half of the park. Relict areas of
hedgerow contain mainly Hawthorn and Blackthorn, but with locally frequent Field Maple and
Elder, and occasional sallow. The very few mature standards, Pedunculate Oak, Alder and Ash, are
mainly confined to the park boundaries.
At the eastern end of the park is a dense belt of scrub dominated by sallow, Hawthorn and Field
Maple which has been augmented by dense planting of mainly native species such as Oak, Hazel,
Ash, Cherry and Rowan. The field layer below this scrub is dominated by abundant Bramble,
Cleavers and Cow Parsley.
Fauna
The park contains a number of bird species typical of scrub and marsh, with Sedge Warbler,
Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit and Reed Bunting noted during the survey. Other groups
have not been studied, but the park is likely to be at least locally important for invertebrates.
Phase 1 Habitats present: Semi-improved grassland, marsh, scrub, brook.
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Kingsbury Linear Park
Evaluation against the criteria
Habitat criteria applied: Grassland and marsh
SCIENTIFIC Elements of the criteria applying
CRITERIA
to the site
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Diversity
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Rarity
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Size
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Naturalness
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Fragility
Typicalness
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Ecological
Position
Significant
Populations
Potential
Value
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COMMUNITY
CRITERIA
Physical & Visual
Access
Educational
Value
Community &
Amenity Value
Aesthetic Appeal
& Landscape
Geographical
Position
Recorded History
Continuity of
Landuse
Elements of the criteria
applying to the site
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Why this site qualifies as a Local Wildlife Site: summary of assessment
Kingsbury Linear Park qualifies as a Local Wildlife Site with 15 scientific and 13 community
criteria, of which the following are considered to be the most important.
Diversity
The park has a reasonable diversity of vascular plants, with 130 species recorded, mainly
characteristic of marsh, semi-improved grassland and both shaded and waste places. It also has a
good variety of habitats and sub-habitats, including damp willow carr, scrub, tall herb, marsh, a
small typha swamp and rough grassland, with a tree-lined brook as the centre piece.
Rarity
Glyceria-Carex marsh and its associated wet grassland/tall herb and willow carr are scarce and
declining habitats within Warwickshire. The park contains important populations of Brown Sedge,
which is generally uncommon in the county, while several further species present in this category
include Marsh Horsetail and Common Spike-rush.
Fragility
The marsh and grassland areas are vulnerable to the encroachment of tall herb, Bramble and scrub,
and need to be managed.
Typicalness
The park contains good local examples of seasonally flooded Glyceria-Carex marsh.
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Kingsbury Linear Park
Ecological Position
The park is linked to other important wetlands within the adjacent Tame Valley via the brook. It is
also the only link between the Tame Valley and other habitats further up the Hurley Brook valley,
including Kingsbury Wood SSSI and wetland habitats on the Kingsbury Rifle Ranges.
Potential Value
Species diversity in the grassland and marsh habitats would be considerably improved with a
sympathetic management regime. The site would also be improved by the creation of some open
water areas.
Physical and Visual Access
Although largely hidden from the main road by trees and urban development, there is open access
to the general public.
Community and Amenity Value
The site is well used by local people for dog-walking and recreation, and is also used as a through
route.
Sources of Information :
Recorder Site No:
Ecosite No:
Survey Details:
Location of records
Date:
Survey Type:
Surveyors:
15/9/09
Phase 2
J J Bowley
(HBA / WWT / WBRC / EN
/Other)
HBA
Any Other Information:
Completed By:
Date: 11/3/10
Passed by Sites Selection Panel:
Map attached: Yes Species list attached: Yes
Yes / No / Further survey required:
candidate Wildlife Site
Signed:
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(circle as
appropriate)
Date:
Kingsbury Linear Park
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