McIlroy Park
| McIlroy Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Reading, Berkshire |
| OS grid | SU 677 743 |
| Area | 12.0 hectares (30 acres) |
| Managed by | Reading Borough Council |
McIlroy Park is a 12-hectare (30-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Tilehurst, a suburb of Reading in Berkshire. It is owned and managed by Reading Borough Council.[1][2] Along with Blundells Copse and Lousehill Copse it is part of West Reading Woodlands.[3]
Geography and site
McIlroy Park is located on a steep hill and features a large species-rich grassland field and a large block of mixed deciduous woodland.[4] There are two ancient sunken paths that pass through the woodland.[5] There are old chalk pits in the west woodland area from the old clay extraction industry and a possible Saxon mound on its eastern edge.[1]
McIlroy Park abuts, and is contiguous with another local nature reserve called Round Copse.[5]
History
The land for the reservation was donated by William Mcilroy, who owned a department store in Reading, and was mayor of the town.[6]
In 1992 site was designated a local nature reserve.[7]
Fauna
The site has the following fauna:[5][8][9]
Birds
- Red kite
- Common buzzard
- Common kestrel
- Common starling
- Common whitethroat
- Fieldfare
- European green woodpecker
- Dunnock
- House sparrow
- Mistle thrush
- Redwing
- Song thrush
- Willow warbler
- Eurasian sparrowhawk
- Eurasian jay
Invertebrates
- Cinnabar moth
- Bombus ruderarius
- Scotopteryx chenopodiata
- Gatekeeper
- Holly blue
- Meadow brown
- Lycaena phlaeas
- Speckled wood
Flora
The site has the following flora:[1][5][9][10]
Trees
Plants
- Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- Catnip
- Mercurialis perennis
- Holcus mollis
- Melica uniflora
- Milium effusum
- Luzula pilosa
- Moehringia trinervia
- Calluna
- Ruscus aculeatus
Fungi
References
- ^ a b c "McIlroy Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "Map of McIlroy Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ "UK - McIlroy Park (Part of West Reading Woodlands) Nature Reserve in Reading - Walking". Freedom2explore.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ "Reading Borough Council". Reading.gov.uk. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "WPG Management Plan" (PDF). Forestry Commission. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ Mayon-White, Richard; Yorke, Wendy (4 July 2013). Exploring the Thames Wilderness: A Guide to the Natural Thames - Richard Mayon-White, Wendy Yorke - Google Books. ISBN 9781408181126. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ "Friends of McIlroy Park". Econetreading.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ 15:06, 24 SEP 2014 (24 September 2014). "Rural Reading: McIlroy Park is one of Reading's hidden gems - Adrian Lawson". Get Reading. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ a b "The Reading Naturalist No. 57" (PDF). Reading and District Natural History Society. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ "Aspects of Suburban Landscapes". Historic England. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.