Conservation & Biodiversity

Thumbnail : Allesley Village Nature Park : Click image to enlarge

Throughout Coventry, the city boasts various natural beauty spots, green spaces and parkland acting as the ideal sanctuary for local wildlife. Providing the perfect space for conservation projects and the opportunity for further study, Coventry is extremely proud in actively protecting the natural environments we have here. Blessed with several nature reserves in Tile Hill, Allesley and Coombe to name a few, these areas are of great importance for both the plants and wildlife who take residence here. Home to a diverse array of wildlife, the city dedicates time to developing these areas along with pocket parks and green spaces which provide a safe habitat for the numerous animal species and plant life in turn creating areas of substantial growth, abundant with healthy shrubs, trees and lawns. As one of Coventry’s premier locations, bursting with natural beauty, Coombe Country Park is home to the UK’s largest heronry nesting site and wild bird sanctuaries, which nestle alongside rare and usual wildfowl and water species. Coombe offers a unique and delightful outdoor experience for all ages with wooden play areas, education centre and custom made bird hive to keep visitors to the park entertained; Coombe Abbey do a wonderful job of both preserving and encouraging natural habitats within which natural wildlife can thrive.

Uniquely, Coventry city centre plays a rather unusual host to a couple of feathered friends in the shape of two nesting peregrine falcons. The often illusive pair live within the spire of Holy Trinity Church based in Coventry’s Cathedral Quarter, a testament to the city’s successful conservational efforts. The pair of rare birds provide a welcome addition to the Coventry’s expanding skyline.

Thumbnail : Copswood Pool at Binley Road : Click image to enlarge

Bounded by busy commuter routes, the Kenilworth Road and A45, ‘Canley Ford’ provides stunning green space for residents and wildlife alike to thrive. Created 10 years ago, volunteer group, ‘Friends of Canley Ford’ meet regularly to clear the site of litter, plant trees, and wildflowers whilst protecting the beautiful surrounding meadows. Over the past decade, a vast 3,500 trees have been planted, the meadows are managed as traditional hay meadows and a successful wildlife pond has been created. The voluntary team also run regular educational activities for city schools; encouraging the important message of conservation and biodiversity to the young. The ancient woodlands of Coventry are one of our major assets, offering peace and tranquillity within a very busy city. ‘Wainbody Wood’ also located near the Kenilworth Road dates back to 1844 and is spread across 30 acres of land, filled during the summer of Willowherb, Red Campion, Yellow Pimpernel, Foxgloves and many others. The secluded woodland offers space for a wide variety of plants, trees and fungi to flourish, housing many species of insects, birds and other wildlife including Muntjac deer.

Allesley Park has welcomed a brand new wildlife pond to its grounds; managed by Coventry City Council, the park serves as a fantastic open public space for those within the local area. The new addition provides a delightful haven for a large variety of animal species and its boardwalk gives members of the public the perfect opportunity to inspect and investigate the tall grasses, sheltered hedgerows and sloping banks; ideal for frogs, newts and other pond life. Nearby, the Allesley Nature Reserve offers a secluded habitat for various birds including red spotted woodpeckers.

Businesses within the expanding Westwood Business Park continue to invest and encourage well maintained green space, wildflower planting and conservational practices including the on-site bog garden and balance pond.

Ansty Park is Coventry’s brand new £130 million pound world class Manufacturing Technology Centre offering large scale bespoke offices, laboratories and high quality accommodation. Since April 2010, Ansty Park in conjunction with The Landscape Group has delivered a leading example of hard landscaping, conservation sites and developing green space. With acres of surrounding grassland, flowering meadows and natural wildlife habitats, Ansty Park is the latest addition to Coventry’s on-going efforts to encourage and sustain biodiversity and conservation within our city.

The antics of birds were closely studied by intrigued children at a Coventry primary school. Experts from the RSPB visited Year 4 pupils at Holbrook Primary School, Holbrooks, to teach them how look out for birds and count the number of species they could see. Small groups were taken into the grounds of the Gateside Road school to complete the activity.
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