Malvern & Brueton Park
Encyclopedia
Malvern and Brueton Park is a town park and Local Nature Reserve
in Britain. It is located in Solihull
, West Midlands
. The park is formed from a comparatively narrow strip of land, with the length being approximately ten times the average width, but it is looped forming a roughly U-shaped layout. The parks cover an area of approximately 130 acre (0.5260918 km²). Historically the park was formed by the joining of two separate parcels of different land. There is a large water feature, Brueton Park Lake, which runs through the southern end of the park, and is formed by the damming of a local watercourse, the River Blythe
.
A statue, the Prancing Horse and Man dominates the ‘Malvern Park Avenue’. This powerful statue was made in 1874 by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm
(1834-90), Viennese-born Sculptor in Ordinary to Scotland, and is thought to represent Alexander the Great and his famous steed Bucephalas, which only he could control. It was purchased at auction by Captain Oliver Bird, of Bird's Custard
, for his garden at Tudor Grange, but he donated it to the Solihull Council in 1945 and it was finally placed in Malvern Park in the Coronation year, 1953.
In contrast, the Brueton Park side is more devoted to wildlife, with a Local Nature Reserve, the lake and a grove of mature trees. There are several "species" of Oak
including English, Turkey, Scarlet and Chestnut-leafed. There is only one species of Ash
, but there are several "cultivars" of this species. These include Golden, Single-leafed and weeping Ash. There are also many conifers within the park and these include species such as Scots Pine
, Bald Cypress and Giant Redwood
.
The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
opened a conservation interpretation and education centre in 2002, which provides workshops, talks and demonstrations as well as providing for the parks toilet and café facilities.
The Park was given to the town by Mr Horace Brueton in 1944, which was formally part of Malvern Hall and the two Parks were linked in 1963.
The conservation area, in Brueton Park, received Local Nature Reserve status in 2002 in recognition for the Park's importance for wildlife. The Park contains the River Blythe
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Woodland, designated in 1989 by English Nature. The woods are important for oak, ash and alder trees as well as a carpet of wildflowers.
The parks became home to Brueton parkrun
in July 2010. parkrun is a free weekly timed 5k run, walk or jog that starts at 9am on Saturday mornings. Over 120 people of all ages and ability take part every week.
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
in Britain. It is located in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
, 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...
. The park is formed from a comparatively narrow strip of land, with the length being approximately ten times the average width, but it is looped forming a roughly U-shaped layout. The parks cover an area of approximately 130 acre (0.5260918 km²). Historically the park was formed by the joining of two separate parcels of different land. There is a large water feature, Brueton Park Lake, which runs through the southern end of the park, and is formed by the damming of a local watercourse, the River Blythe
River Blythe
The Blythe is a river in the English Midlands which runs from Warwickshire, through the borough of Solihull and on to Coleshill. It runs along the Meriden Gap in the Midlands Plateau,...
.
Description
Given the size and aspect of the park, the character of the land differs considerably along its length. The Malvern end of the Park acts as a formal town centre Park, and is within easy walking access to the main town shopping area. It also offers displays of formal floral arrangements and has a large children’s playground area. Malvern Park was laid out by the then Urban District Council in 1926 on land partly forming part of the estate of Malvern Hall and partly purchased from local farmers (Malvern Park Farm). Malvern Hall, which dates back to about 1690, still remains but is home now to St Martin's Independent School for Girls. The town centre entrance gateposts date from that year; the gates, like so much muncicipal ironwork, were requisitioned for scrap in the 1939-45 war and were never replaced.A statue, the Prancing Horse and Man dominates the ‘Malvern Park Avenue’. This powerful statue was made in 1874 by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm
Joseph Boehm
Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, 1st Baronet, RA was a medallist and sculptor, best known for the Jubilee head of Queen Victoria on coinage, and the statue of the Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner.-Biography:...
(1834-90), Viennese-born Sculptor in Ordinary to Scotland, and is thought to represent Alexander the Great and his famous steed Bucephalas, which only he could control. It was purchased at auction by Captain Oliver Bird, of Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard is the original version of what is known generically as custard powder. It is a cornflour -based powder which thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated to a sufficient temperature...
, for his garden at Tudor Grange, but he donated it to the Solihull Council in 1945 and it was finally placed in Malvern Park in the Coronation year, 1953.
In contrast, the Brueton Park side is more devoted to wildlife, with a Local Nature Reserve, the lake and a grove of mature trees. There are several "species" of Oak
Oak Tree
Oak Tree may refer to:*Oak, the tree*Oak Tree, County Durham, a village in County Durham, England*The Oaktree Foundation, a youth-run aid and development agency*Oak Tree National, golf club in Edmond, Oklahoma...
including English, Turkey, Scarlet and Chestnut-leafed. There is only one species of Ash
Ash tree
Fraxinus is a genus flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45-65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous though a few subtropical species are evergreen. The tree's common English name, ash, goes back to the Old English æsc, while the generic name...
, but there are several "cultivars" of this species. These include Golden, Single-leafed and weeping Ash. There are also many conifers within the park and these include species such as Scots Pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
, Bald Cypress and Giant Redwood
Redwood Tree
"Redwood Tree" is the sixth song on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1972 album, Saint Dominic's Preview. When released as a single it was not as successful as Rolling Stone reviewer Steven Holden had anticipated: "The affirmation of Saint Dominic's Preview is translated to the past...
.
The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
The 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...
opened a conservation interpretation and education centre in 2002, which provides workshops, talks and demonstrations as well as providing for the parks toilet and café facilities.
The Park was given to the town by Mr Horace Brueton in 1944, which was formally part of Malvern Hall and the two Parks were linked in 1963.
The conservation area, in Brueton Park, received Local Nature Reserve status in 2002 in recognition for the Park's importance for wildlife. The Park contains the River Blythe
River Blythe
The Blythe is a river in the English Midlands which runs from Warwickshire, through the borough of Solihull and on to Coleshill. It runs along the Meriden Gap in the Midlands Plateau,...
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Woodland, designated in 1989 by English Nature. The woods are important for oak, ash and alder trees as well as a carpet of wildflowers.
The parks became home to Brueton parkrun
Parkrun
parkrun is the name given to a collection of 5 km running events that take place every week in several different countries. They are free to take part in and require runners to register on-line for a unique athlete number and to print their own identification barcode before taking part.parkrun...
in July 2010. parkrun is a free weekly timed 5k run, walk or jog that starts at 9am on Saturday mornings. Over 120 people of all ages and ability take part every week.
Facilities
The park facilities and features include for:- Car parking
- Play Area
- Tennis courts
- Toilets
- Café
- Flower beds,
- Ornamental gardens,
- Rose garden
Further Information
- http://www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk/home/visitor-centres/parkridge.aspx Warwickshire wildlife trust, Brueton visitor information
- http://www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk/community--youth/heritage-projects/brueton-park-heritage-project.aspx Warwickshire wildlife trust, Brueton Park Heritage Project.
- http://www.solihull.gov.uk/parks/malvernandbruetonparksmap.htm A large map of the park
- http://www.parkrun.org.uk/brueton Brueton parkrun