Donington and Albrighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donington and Albrighton |
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Humphreston Brook flowing through Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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| Type | Nature reserve |
| Location | Shropshire |
| Nearest city | Albrighton Village |
| Area | 5.4 hectare |
Donington and Albrighton is a special local nature reserve in Shropshire, England. It's a great place for both wildlife and people to enjoy nature. This reserve also has a cool historical secret: it's home to St. Cuthbert's Well, which people once believed could magically cure blindness! This nature reserve covers about 5.4 hectares, which is like the size of more than ten football fields.
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Where is Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve?
You can find this nature reserve in Albrighton Village in Shropshire. It's right in the Humphreston Brook Valley, near the local church.
Getting there is easy! You can come by train, car, or bus. If you're driving, there's a car park for the reserve. Just look for the signs near Donington Church. The postcode is WV7 3EP.
Amazing Wildlife at the Reserve
The main part of the reserve is called St. Cuthbert's Meadow. This area is mostly used by local people for walking and relaxing.
Around St. Cuthbert's Well, you'll find very old trees like Beech, Hazel, and especially ancient Yew trees. These big, old trees are super important because they provide perfect spots for birds to build their nests.
The Donington Pool is another key part of the reserve. It's a valuable spot for wildfowl (like ducks and geese) to breed. You can even do some fishing here, but it's organized through the Royal British Legion.
At the far end of Donington Pool, there's a special willow woodland area. It has streams and marshy spots. This part isn't open to the public to keep everyone safe, but it's still a very important home for lots of different wildlife.
Scientists have spotted over ninety different types of birds either living in or flying over the reserve! Plus, about 30 different bird species are known to breed their babies right here in the reserve.
A Look Back: History of the Site
The Humphreston Brook has always been an important natural boundary between Donington and Albrighton villages.
Back in the early 1600s, a miller named John Talbot created Donington Pool. He built a dam across the brook at Rectory Road. This dam helped him get a steady supply of water to power his mill. Interestingly, he was fined by Donington for this, but not by Albrighton, because they had already given him permission!
The pool was originally much bigger. But over time, due to a natural process called Hydrosere (where a body of water slowly fills up with plants and soil), it's gradually shrinking. Eventually, it will turn into marshland and then a wet woodland.
And don't forget the famous St. Cuthbert's Well! People in the past truly believed its water had miraculous powers that could cure blindness.
Art and Improvements at the Reserve
The fishing pool at the nature reserve recently received £50,000 to make it better for everyone, especially people with disabilities.
These improvements at Donington Pool include new fishing spots and a special platform. This means all visitors can easily get close to the water's edge.
An exciting art project also took place at the reserve! An artist named Richard Taylor worked with local people to design a cool centerpiece for the pool. It's made of copper fish sculptures with open mouths that spray water.
To show off the beautiful wildflowers found on the site, metal and glass sculptures were placed in the meadow. Also, brass rubbings were used to include the history of St. Cuthbert's Well in the art designs.
Keeping the reserve looking good takes a lot of work! Trainees from RAF Cosford even helped out. They repaired a pathway and cleared away extra plants.
Images for kids
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Humphreston Brook flowing through Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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Humphreston Brook flowing through Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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The pond life pool at Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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Humphreston Brook was dammed to form the big pool at Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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Sign on Donington road about St Cuthbert's meadow, the precursor of Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
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Looking north west across Donington and Albrighton Nature Reserve
