Map sources for Sutton Park at grid reference SP1096

Sutton Park, in Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom, is one of the largest urban parks in Europe; it is smaller than Richmond Park in London,^[1] but larger than the Phoenix Park in Dublin which both claim to be the largest in the continent. Image File history File links Dot4gb. ... Image File history File links Gb4dot. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Map sources for Sutton Coldfield at grid reference SP1395 Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham Sutton Coldfield is a part of the City of Birmingham, England. ... For the Korean family name Park, see Korean name. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A corner of the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal Parks in London. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Wellington Monument in Phoenix Park Automatic lighting gas street lamps line the main avenue of Phoenix Park Phoenix Park (in Irish, Páirc an Fhionn-Uisce) is a large park located 3 km to the north west of Dublin city centre in Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ...

The Park covers 900.1 hectares (2224.2 acres / 9.0 km²),^[2] with a mix of heathland, wetlands and marshes, seven lakes, extensive ancient woodlands (covering approximately a quarter of the Park), several restaurants, a private 18-hole golf course on its western edge and a municipal golf course to the south, a donkey sanctuary, children's playgrounds and a visitors' centre. There is no entrance charge, and a wide range of personal leisure activities are undertaken in the park. A hectare (symbol ha) is a metric unit of surface area, equal to 100 ares (the name is a contraction of the SI prefix hecto + are). ... This article is about the unit of measure known as the acre. ... Heaths are anthropogenic habitats found primarily in northern and western Europe, where they have been created by thousands of years of human clearance of natural forest vegetation by grazing and burning on mainly infertile acidic soils. ... A subtropical wetland in Florida, USA, with an endangered American Crocodile. ... Freshwater marsh in Florida In geography, a marsh is a type of wetland, featuring grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, cat tails, and other herbaceous plants (possibly with low-growing woody plants) in a context of shallow water. ... Greg Norman on the 18th tee at St Andrews. ... Binomial name Equus asinus Linnaeus, 1758 The donkey or jackass, Equus asinus, is a domesticated animal of the horse family, Equidae. ...

History

Peat-cutting, near Rowton's Well during World War II, recovered flint arrow-heads at the base of the peat. There are some unassuming prehistoric burnt mounds, and an ancient well. The park contains a preserved section of the Icknield Street, a Roman road; the noticeably cambered road enters the Park near the Royal Oak Gate and exits towards the aptly-named Streetly; it is still possible to walk the road. The Queen's Coppice, planted in 1953, now covers the site of an ancient tumulus, from which a stone 'coffin' was dug out by antiquarians in 1808. Near Blackroot Pool are the earthworks of an ancient encampment, the origin of this is not known - possibly it was a hunting lodge and it may have been Roman, Mercian or Norman (or even all three, over time). Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... A flint nodule from the Onondaga limestone layer, Buffalo, New York. ... A burnt mound is mound of heat-shattered stones and charcoal dating approximately 1500 - 1000 BC. They are thought to be the remains of stones heated in fires which were used to heat water for cooking, bathing, dyeing or leather treatment. ... Cable tool water well drilling rig in Kimball, West Virginia. ... Icknield Street or Ryknild Street is a Roman road in Britain that runs from Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire where it connected to the Fosse Way, to Rotherham in South Yorkshire, it went via Alcester, Redditch, the area now covered by Birmingham (where a large fort was located), Lichfield... A Roman road in Pompeii Road Construction on Trajans Column The Roman roads were essential for the growth of their empire, by enabling them to move armies. ... Streetly is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. ... Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management, by which young tree stems are cut down to a foot or less from ground level. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Burial of Oleg of Novgorod in a tumulus in 912. ... 1808 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Norman conquests in red. ...

The park was a Royal Forest of Mercia at around the 9th Century. By the early 1100s it was in use as an established Norman deer park. The land was given to the people of Sutton Coldfield by King Henry VIII in 1528 after Bishop John Vesey, a friend of the King, asked for it as a present to the people of Sutton Coldfield. The charcoal burning that took place in the Park is thought to have given Sutton Coldfield the second part of its name. The general location of Mercia, along with the other peoples of Britain around the year 600. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Centuries: 11th century - 12th century - 13th century Decades: 1050s 1060s 1070s 1080s 1090s - 1100s - 1110s 1120s 1130s 1140s 1150s Years: 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 Events and Trends 1107 Emperor Toba ascends the throne of Japan The great Buddhist centre of learning at Nalanda is... The Norman dynasty is a series of four monarchs, who ruled England from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, until 1154. ... For the play, see Henry VIII (play). ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... Bishop John Vesey, originally John Harman born around 1462. ... Map sources for Sutton Coldfield at grid reference SP1395 Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham Sutton Coldfield is a part of the City of Birmingham, England. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. ...

Wyndley Pool is the oldest in the Park, perhaps dating from the 12th century or even earlier. The house of the Royal Steward sat on the bluff overlooking Wyndley pool. Keeper's Pool and Bracebridge Pool date from the 15th century. Powell's Pool, Longmoor Pool, and Blackroot date from the 18th century, and were created to run watermills. There was another pool at Boldmere, now outside the park, but this has since vanished. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A watermill is a machine constructed by connecting a water wheel to a pair of millstones. ... Boldmere is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. ...

Most of the Park has been undisturbed since then. The area of Ladywood, at Four Oaks, was taken for housing, but in exchange the Meadow Platt area near the town was added to the Park, thus allowing the construction of a new Park Road access from the town. A rail line was built through the Park in 1879, and the Park had its own station. The advent of the railway, and the new town entrance, greatly increased the number of visitors to the Park. The Park's own dedicated station was closed in 1964, and the line now only serves goods trains. 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ...

During World War I, convalescent camps were built in the Park. During World War II further camps were built; these were first used for enemy aliens, then for U.S. forces prior to D-Day, and finally for German and Italian prisoners of war. Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy Empire of Japan United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ...

In 1957, the World Scout Jamboree was held in the park, with participants from all over the world. The event is commemorated by a short stone pillar in the centre of the park. 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The World Scout Jamboree (Jamboree Scout Mondial in French) is a gathering of Scouts (ages 14-17) from all over the world. ...

Car traffic through the Park was heavily restricted from the 1950s until its takeover by Birmingham City Council in 1974. Thereafter, the Park's pastoral character was much changed due to the free access of cars. By the late 1970s there were growing problems with litter, erosion, arson, vandalism, motorbikes and road accidents in the Park. The 1950s was the decade spanning from the 1st of January, 1950 to the 31st December, 1959. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

There was a rare 1887 lido, for open-air all-weather swimming, at Keepers Pool. But the lido closed in 2003 after arson, and was burned down entirely in 2004. The Lido area is now being purposely reverted to woodland & wetland. 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Lido and the Venetian Lagoon. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A subtropical wetland in Florida, USA, with an endangered American Crocodile. ...

Sports in the Park

The park is popular for a number of sports. These include mountain biking, with the "skeleton hill" being popular with downhill bikers. Secondly sailing and canoeing, which take place mainly on Powell's Pool adjacent to "La Reserve" restaurant. Runners and Walkers also make the most of the park and its extensive pathways and trails. Also there is an 18-hole golf course near to the Streetly Gate entrance to the park. Finally, there is a section of grass sectioned off for the usage of model aeroplanes and helicopters. This is between Boldmere Gate and the Jamboree Stone and can be accessed at most times by car from Banners Gate.

Current status

In 1997, English Nature designated most of Sutton Park a National Nature Reserve and it features on English Heritage's list of recognised historic parks and gardens. In July 2005 a 20-year 'Keepers of Time' scheme was announced, which will eliminate alien species from ancient woodlands and restore native varieties like oak, ash and beech. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... English Nature is the United Kingdom government agency that promotes the conservation of wildlife, geology and wild places throughout England. ... National Nature Reserve is a United Kingdom government conservation designation for a nature reserve of national significance. ... English Heritage is a United Kingdom government body with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. ... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Cyclobalanopsis and Lithocarpus. ... Species See text European Ash in flower Narrow-leafed Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) shoot with leaves Closeup of European Ash seeds 19th century illustration of Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus) An ash can be any of four different tree genera from four very distinct families (see end of page for disambiguation), but... Species Fagus crenata - Japanese Beech Fagus engleriana - Chinese Beech Fagus grandifolia - American Beech Fagus hayatae - Taiwan Beech Fagus japonica - Japanese Blue Beech Fagus longipetiolata - South Chinese Beech Fagus lucida - Shining Beech Fagus mexicana - Mexican Beech or Haya Fagus orientalis - Oriental Beech Fagus sylvatica - European Beech Beech (Fagus) is a genus...

The park is currently managed by Birmingham City Council; but in July 2004 it was announced that control would be devolved to the local councillors for Sutton Coldfield. Local Government History Most of Birmingham was historically a part of Warwickshire, though the modern city also includes villages and towns formerly in Staffordshire or Worcestershire. ... Map sources for Sutton Coldfield at grid reference SP1395 Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham Sutton Coldfield is a part of the City of Birmingham, England. ...

The roads have reverted to their previous 'heavily restricted' status. There is still considerable car traffic into and out of the park, mainly of families with children, dog walkers, kite/model aeroplane fliers and other recreational use, including some 'cruising' of local youths in modified vehicles. However, cross-park 'through' traffic is now completely blocked by sturdy gates across the main link roads, similar to the existing gates at all road entrances and exits, that open and close with dusk and dawn. This measure has significantly reduced the use of the park as a rush-hour short-cut (notably between Boldmere and Streetly), with some noticeable impact on congestion of local routes around the Park. The benefit of traffic restriction is improvement in the enjoyability of the park; with cleaner air, safer roads for walkers and cyclists, and much reduced visual and noise pollution, plus reduced wear and tear on the poorly maintained, decaying road surfaces. Cruising may mean: Cruising (maritime), leisurely travel by boat, yacht, or cruise ship. ... Boldmere is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. ... Streetly is an area of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. ...

Road speed limits through the park have been reduced twice, from 30mph to a generally respected 20 mph in the 1980s, and recently (2004) to 5mph, although the practical effects of the 5mph limit remain to be noted. Also, on the pedestrianised areas (areas that used to be roads for cars, but are now close except for emergency/ranger traffic), many speed bumps have been removed, as there is no need for them, and makes the tarmac look more like a giant path. Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The commercial funfair for small children beside Powell's Pool continues to operate, attracting significant business. It offers rides such as a daisy-chained go-kart track ride (with 'spooky' tunnels), and a two-person manually-operated bell-rope pirate ship swings. A kart racer takes a turn on an indoor track Kart racing (as the word is so spelled by enthusiasts) or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Italian ship-rigged vessel Amerigo Vespucci in New York Harbor, 1976 A ship is a large, sea-going watercraft. ...

There is a Sea Cadets dry-dock training vessel ("the Concrete Corvette") at Boldmere Gate along with the HQ of the 1st Sutton Coldfield Sea Scouts. The Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) is a UK cadet force, that takes after the Royal Navy (even though it is not controlled and funded by the Royal Navy in the same way the Combined Cadet Force, Air Training Corps or Army Cadet Force are respectively controlled by their parent sections...

Also, there is a greater amount of police officers that are in the park, especially at the main gate, town gate. This has helped to stop vandalism and arson attacks on the park, however, some incidents still happen.

There is another thing that there is a lot of talk about in Sutton Coldfield. Supposedly, there is a person living inside the park grounds (which is illegal), and has been spotted by dog walkers several times. The reliablility of this is debatable, however, there has been photographs taken by people walking through the park, where it appears that someone has been living there, yet left in a hurry. This person has been dubbed 'barkfoot' by the local newspaper, the Sutton Coldfield Observer. The Sutton Coldfield Observer is a free local newspaper serving the residents of Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham, England. ...

References

1. ^ Written answer to the House of Commons from the Head of the Royal Parks Service, 7 Feb 2002
2. ^ Sutton Park Management Plan, Birmingham City Council, 2002

External links

• Friends of Sutton Park Association
• Birmingham City Council: Parks pages
• Sutton Sea Scouts