Park is wonder of the natural world on our very doorstep
THIS week sees the publication of a major new book ‘The Flora of Sutton Park.’
It is perhaps fitting that this should coincide with the start of David Attenborough’s ‘Wild Isles’ television series, documenting the natural wonders of the British Isles, because Sutton Park is itself a natural wonder of the West Midlands.
One of the largest urban parks in Europe, a mere six miles from Birmingham city centre, it is a National Nature Reserve, the successor to a medieval deer park, and the jewel in the conurbation‘s wildlife crown.
Sutton Park is ecologically complex, both because of its geographical position in the centre of England, and its wide variety of habitats, including acid grassland, wet and dry heath, fen, swamp and ancient woodland.
The quality of some of the woodland has been compared with that of the New Forest. The book’s 400 lavishly illustrated pages contain comprehensive accounts of the Park’s trees and flowers, fungi, lichens, liverworts and mosses. Species’ descriptions include distribution maps, habitats and abundance.
Details of the species are supplemented by accounts of the Park’s geology, landscape, water quality, history, and archaeology.
It’s written history goes back to 1126, when the land was granted by Henry I to the Earl of Warwick. Almost exactly 400 years later, in 1528, Henry VIII gave the park to the people of Sutton Coldfield, following a hunting incident when he was saved from a wild boar attack by a local woman.
The land has remained open and undeveloped, although it has accommodated, amongst other things, military training, a world scout jamboree, a racecourse, a lido, and stages of the RAC Rally.
The book’s authors (Prof. Ian Trueman, Mike Poulton, Mike Hodder, Simon Phipps, Lukas Large and Shirley Hancock) worked for nine years on botanical records from the 17th Century to the present day.
In addition they surveyed the Park in a series of excursions, all of which are detailed in the book.
They have been assisted throughout by staff at EcoRecord, the biological recording centre based at the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country. A spokesperson for the Wildlife Trust said: ‘The book will provide a unique insight into the incredibly special habitats and species found at Sutton Park and help readers to enjoy rediscovering this very special place.’
The ’Flora of Sutton Park’ is available for £20 + p&p from www. naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop
It’s written history goes back to 1126, when the land was granted by Henry I to the Earl of Warwick