McIlroy Park
Map
TypeLocal Nature Reserve
LocationReading, Berkshire
OS gridSU 677 743
Area12.0 hectares (30 acres)
Managed byReading 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

Invertebrates

Flora

The site has the following flora:[1][5][9][10]

Trees

Plants

Fungi

Wikimedia Commons has media related to McIlroy Park.

References

  1. ^ a b c "McIlroy Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Map of McIlroy Park". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ "UK - McIlroy Park (Part of West Reading Woodlands) Nature Reserve in Reading - Walking". Freedom2explore.com. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Reading Borough Council". Reading.gov.uk. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d "WPG Management Plan" (PDF). Forestry Commission. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Friends of McIlroy Park". Econetreading.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ^ 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.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b "The Reading Naturalist No. 57" (PDF). Reading and District Natural History Society. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Aspects of Suburban Landscapes". Historic England. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.

51°27′50″N 1°01′33″W / 51.4639°N 1.0257°W / 51.4639; -1.0257

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