Our green open spaces, share an abundance of natural wonderments, from shimmering silver birches, bronze beeches to grand oaks, from whispering grasses to warbling reeds, babbling brooks to meandering rivers and feathery, furry and amphibian friends. Each reserve has woven its own distinctive character of little gems to form the rich environmental tapestry we are so fortunate to have upon our Kings Norton doorsteps.
Crossing West Hill Road at Camp Lane, and glimpsing the rhyme of the River Rea as you walk up to meet the beginning of Kings Norton Park, it is just long enough to distract and arouse you from your slumbering stroll, through the former mill lands and pools of the nature reserve. It is just far enough to prepare yourself for the rush of sweet acreage, which still bears signs of ridge and furrow and the gentle freshness that breezes around you as you step from tarmac to grass.
The Park, like the reserve, displays pockets of naturalness and nurture, but threaded within the Parks curves, rises and plains, are reminisces of arable farms, orchards and harvests, royal battles and lives of the workers fleeting through. The stories live on in text of the page, snap of the image, memories of the aged and the limbs of our youth. The Park and its playing fields are ours for our time, to escape from the strains and stresses, to care for and share with, to gift to the future.
The major focus for Friends of Kings Norton Park group has been exploration through conversing with many fascinating folk. We have unearthed such a rich and diverse range of interesting angles to the Park and we have begun to feel what our green spaces mean to people.
Our first project was thrust upon us; ‘Save the Shrub Beds’ or be grassed! Our campaign, after two icy- false starts, resulted in a hugely successful planting event. Those now relaxing on nearby benches can absorb a bouquet of colourful, sweet scented shrubs.
Other projects will concentrate on enhancing the River Rea Corridor so a dreamy stroll can continue right through the park, and hopefully, playing fields, to the Kings Norton Toll House, which proudly sits on the Worcester/Stratford Canal Side. Through initial discussions with Phil Evans and Amanda, our ideas will be planted up as trees, reeds, iris and wild garlic, etc. Our invaluable resources, Rangers Steve and Adam, and Sue Amey, Constituency Parks Manager, are guiding us on how to encourage a desirable wildlife habitat… so far we know there is little owl, red polls, kingfishers, willow warblers and bats along this stretch, baseline surveys may show us further interesting delights. The first signs of this natural corridor will be seen through the shoots of a small meadow as the mowing regime is slightly altered.
Other more structural changes are planned, which are equal value to our community, the resurfacing of Kings Norton Playing Fields Car Park, will be a huge improvement on the potholed surface which now lies beneath. The cost of this will be met with Section 106 monies, as will refurbishments to the Parks, car park and children’s play area. We visited nearby school and nursery children, and hopefully the architects will include some of the dreams of the children. We should also see some additional benches, bins and repairs to canal feeder bridges. This work will take place during the cooler months for as long as funding continues to flow.
A reporting process, Parks Watch Scheme, which is a joint initiative involving, KNNR, The Fields Millennium Trust, local PCSO Andy Ryan and the Parks department, will be put in place in 2012.
We have many groups and ind\ividuals to thank you are probably one of those people… so, thank you, and please do continue to support us!
If you would like to join our group, and for all other enquiries, then please email us at: info.foknp@gmail.com
