Malvern and Brueton Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malvern and Brueton Park |
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Brueton Park Lake,
formed by the damming of the River Blythe |
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Solihull, U.K. |
| Area | 130 acres (0.53 km2) |
| Created | 1944 |
| Operated by | Solihull Council |
| Status | Open year round Green Flag Award |
Malvern and Brueton Park is a lovely town park and local nature reserve in Solihull, England. It's located in the West Midlands area. Imagine a long, narrow strip of land that loops around like a "U" shape – that's how the park is laid out!
The park covers about 130 acres (which is roughly 53 hectares). It was created by joining two different pieces of land together. A big lake, called Brueton Park Lake, runs through the southern part. This lake was made by building a dam on a local river, the River Blythe.
Malvern and Brueton Park has won a special award called the Green Flag Award. This award shows that the park is really well-managed and cared for.
Contents
Exploring Malvern and Brueton Park
The Malvern Park Area
The Malvern part of the park feels like a fancy town garden. It's super easy to walk to from the main shopping area in Solihull. Here, you'll find beautiful flower displays and a big playground for kids to enjoy.
Malvern Park was first created in 1926. The land used to be part of a large estate called Malvern Hall. Malvern Hall itself is a very old building, dating back to around 1690. Today, it's home to Solihull Preparatory School. The big gateposts at the town entrance are from 1926. Sadly, the original gates were taken for scrap metal during Second World War and were never put back.
A famous statue called The Horse and His Master stands proudly in the Malvern Park Avenue. This powerful statue was made in 1874 by a talented artist named Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm. He was known for his amazing animal sculptures.
This large version of the statue was shown at big art exhibitions in Paris and London. It was bought by Captain Oliver Bird, who was famous for Bird's Custard. He kept it in his garden for a while. In 1945, he gave it to the Solihull Council. The statue was finally placed in Malvern Park in 1953, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
The Brueton Park Area
The Brueton Park side is very different! It's more focused on nature and wildlife. Here, you'll find a Local Nature Reserve, the big lake, and many old, tall trees.
There are several types of Oak trees, like English Oak and Turkey Oak. You can also spot different kinds of Ash trees, such as Golden Ash. The park also has many evergreen trees, including Scots Pine, Bald Cypress, and even giant Redwood trees!
The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust opened the Parkridge Centre in 2002. This centre is a great place to learn about nature and conservation. They offer fun programs for children and families, workshops, and talks. It's also where you'll find the park's toilets and a café.
Mr. Horace Brueton gave this part of the park to the town in 1944. It used to be part of the Malvern Hall estate. The two parks, Malvern and Brueton, were officially connected in 1963.
The conservation area in Brueton Park became a Local Nature Reserve in 2002. This means it's recognized as an important place for wildlife. The park also includes a special area called the River Blythe Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This area is important for its oak, ash, and alder trees, and a beautiful carpet of wildflowers.
Park Activities and Facilities
Malvern and Brueton Park offers many things to do and see:
- Car parking for visitors
- A fun play area for children
- Tennis courts for playing sports
- Clean toilets and a cozy café
- Beautiful flower beds and ornamental gardens
- A lovely rose garden
- The Parkridge Centre, which offers educational programs about nature
The park is also home to Brueton parkrun. This is a free, weekly 5-kilometer (about 3.1 miles) run, walk, or jog. It happens every Saturday morning at 9 am. Around 500 people of all ages and abilities take part each week!
See also
