These woodlands run alongside the Kenilworth Road from the centre of Coventry to its modern boundary, providing a magnificent entrance into our historic city. The beauty of the route has long been appreciated. 19th Century guidebooks describe the avenue of oaks and the view of Coventry's spires. Now part of a Conservation Area, designated in 1968, the woodlands are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.
The woodlands include Wainbody Wood, a mixed woodland of 70 acres and Stivichall Common, 45 acres of deciduous trees on former common land. Connecting these woods is the Kenilworth Road Spinney - a narrow belt of trees lining the road on both sides for nearly two miles.
All woods are local nature reserves
There are many opportunities for pleasant walks through the interesting woods which are rich in history as well as wildlife.
Stivichall Common
Commons remained unenclosed for part of the year and could be used by ordinary people. They included Michaelmas lands (arable fields), Lammas lands (meadows) and Wastelands. The wastes were open all year round as pasture for plough-oxen and other animals of the villagers.
Traces of the original three rows of oaks planted in the 18th Century can still be seen on the Common. Lime, recognisable by its heart-shaped leaves and reddish buds, produces flowers which attract bees with their nectar and is used to make a pleasant tea (the tea-bush is a related plant). Other trees to be seen are beech, silver birch, sycamore, a few rowans, hornbeam and Lombardy poplar.
Hawthorn was thought to be supernaturally powerful against evil - the white flowers (May blossom) were used in May Day celebrations. The berries ripen in October and are eaten by many birds such as thrushes, robins and chaffinches.
Shrubs present include holly, elder, crab apple and planted rhododendron bushes.
There is a deep depression on the corner of Beechwood Avenue and Kenilworth Road (locally known as the Devil's Dungeon) which is the remains of an old stone pit. An interesting garden wall made of old gravestones bounds one portion of the Common. Flowers on the Common include willowherb, bluebells and lesser celandine - a small plant with long-stalked heart-shaped leaves and star-like yellow flowers in spring.
Canley Ford
Canley Ford was the old road to Allesley and leads down to the old ford. The trees bordering it are mainly oak and near the Hearsall Golf Course is a hollow oak with wooden blocks nailed inside for climbing. Hawthorn and thick patches of young elm dominate the shrub layer. Many large elms once grew on the Common but none remain - many were removed in 1975/6, as they were victims of Dutch Elm disease. Elm has an oval-shaped leaf with a toothed edge, pointed tip, uneven base and rough surface.
A local group called the Friends of Canley Ford was formed in 1993. They have been responsible for the care and management of two meadows at the lower end of Canley Ford, carrying out tree planting and wild flora management.
Coat of Arms Bridge Road
The largest oak on the Common is along here (girth 15'10'') and nearby is an old milestone. Nearby is a large plane tree, at least 170 years old. It is easily recognised by its dappled bark, which is formed as segments of olive-brown bark flake away, revealing a creamy-white patch beneath. Bark shedding helps the tree breathe in smoky atmospheres. It has sycamore-like leaves and round 'bobbles' which dangle from long stalks and are made up of clusters of tiny green flowers from which seeds develop.
The bridge was built in 1842 to take the new Coventry to Leamington railway. The railway company met with opposition from landowners, including Lord Leigh and Mr A F Gregory, who considered it unnecessary. The Gregory coat of arms is on both sides - the one on the memorial side includes the arms of his wife. Near the bridge is an old animal pound, first recorded in 1663.
The Stivichall hamlet was bought by the Council in 1929 for preservation and includes a smithy, several cottages and other listed buildings.
Kenilworth Road spinneys
These spinneys border the road from the city boundary to Kenpas Highway.
Burnt Post (now the name of the nearby pub) is where the footpath from Earlsdon Avenue ends on the Kenilworth Road. It was previously called Bourne Post and is thought to refer to a post marking the spot where a small brook ran across the road.
Gibbet Hill at the junction of Kenilworth and Stoneleigh Roads gets its name from an incident in 1765. A farmer and his two friends, returning from Coventry market, were attacked by three armed men and robbed and left senseless - the farmer later managed to reach a house but died there of his injuries. The main clue (a piece of pistol) led to the arrest of two soldiers and a weaver. They were tried, convicted and hanged and their corpses suspended in chains on the spot of the murder. Lord Leigh ordered trees to be planted around the site of the gallows. The gibbets were not removed until 1810 and for years afterwards, the superstition remained that the chains could be heard rattling, especially during stormy weather.
Rules of Kenilworth Road Woodland
Kenilworth Road conservation area
Coventry City Council rules and regulations for the protection of the Kenilworth Road Spinney.
Background
Kenilworth Road has been described as the finest approach to any city in the British Isles. It was designated a Conservation Area in December 1968 and extends from the City boundary south of Gibbet Hill Road in a north-easterly direction for approximately 4.8 Km (3 miles).
The magnificent mature spinney ("the Spinney") that lines almost the whole length of the Kenilworth Road out to the city boundary, forms the backbone of the Conservation Area.
Since the Coventry Corporation purchased the Spinney, along with other land, in 1926, the Spinney has been public land and has been maintained for the public benefit by Coventry City Council (“the City Council”).
Reason for these Rules and Regulations
- The woodland of the Spinney on either side of Kenilworth Road is cut across by many driveways giving access to properties in Kenilworth Road. Typically, householders have limited easement rights which allow them to access their properties over the driveways, whilst the driveways remain City Council land.
- Over time, particularly in recent years, some householders have introduced gates, pillars and splays, flanking walls, fencing, CCTV cameras, intercom systems, and lighting columns onto the driveways. These features/structures are all present without the approval of the City Council, and constitute a continuing trespass to City Council land.
- These features/structures often involve an unsightly detraction from the character of the Conservation Area. Both residents and visitors to the area have expressed concern that the character of Kenilworth Road is changing, as the gates, pillars and walls are visually disruptive to the greensward and are beginning to ‘suburbanize’ this sylvan landscape. The gating also gives the impression that the Spinney is not available for public access and may now actually belong to residents whose houses lie behind the Spinney, which of course is not the case.
- Construction of the features/structures has often caused damage to tree roots and in some instances, splayed fencing has resulted in the removal of native hedging. In addition the gates, many of which are electronically controlled, restrict access to the woodland for tree surveyors, tree surgeons and visitors. As a matter of principle, the Council considers that gates and security features should be erected only at the householders’ entrances to their own property, which may lie some forty metres back from Kenilworth Road itself.
- There is an increase in the amount of unnatural light in the Spinney, where householders have chosen to install lamps to illuminate the driveways. This unnatural light is disruptive to wildlife, and the cables that supply the power are usually trenched-in along the edge of the driveways, damaging tree and shrubbery root systems.
Rules and Regulations as to acceptable and unacceptable features/structures on driveways within the Kenilworth Road Spinney.
Marker posts
- Size, materials and form: The only acceptable feature/structure at the front edge of the Spinney next to Kenilworth Road will be a marker post of the type originally used; that is a single wooden marker post, up to 150 mm square (and not significantly less) and up to 1.0 metre high, situated at the end of the driveway. The post must not project forwards of the hedge or planting line at the front edge of the Spinney, and a post made of metal, plastic or other man-made/synthetic materials will not be acceptable. Some of the surviving original posts have simple pyramidal or curved tops, and some feature simple carving at the top to provide a kind of integral cap, either of which forms would be acceptable for new marker posts.
- Coatings: The wooden marker post can be left unpainted, or painted black, dark brown, dark green or white.
- Reflectors: In order to make the post more visible at night, it will be permissible to attach a reflector of modest size to the post (i.e. a circle, triangle, or a narrow rectangular strip, in no case exceeding 12cm in any dimension and not overlapping the face of the post) to glow in vehicle headlights. House numbers can also be attached to the post, or small plaques carrying the name of the houses, provided these do not extend beyond the width of the post itself. All such attachments should be low-key in the daytime, allowing the post to retain a predominantly natural wood appearance and thus blend comfortably into the Spinney's edge.
- Quantity: As a special exception, it is permissible to erect a post on each side of the driveway, where the driveway is shared between 2 or more houses.
Lighting
No lighting columns, lights mounted in bollards or similar constructions will be permitted within the Spinney.
Cameras and other security equipment/excavation
No CCTV cameras, intercom systems, warning signs, electric gate-opening equipment and other security-related devices or equipment will be permitted within the Spinney.
Trenching along the edge of the driveways and other excavation of any sort is forbidden in the Spinney.
Services/utilities
Unless an express easement has been granted which allows this, no underground services (e.g. pipe-work, cables and other utilities) are permitted to run through the Spinney.
Garden and other refuse
No tipping, dumping or burning of natural garden residues or any other refuse is permitted within the Spinney, whether on a permanent or temporary basis. The only exception to this rule is the return to the woodland of Autumn leaf fall from the Spinney trees, which should be well spread out and not piled up in one place or left to accumulate in heaps.
The lighting of fires within the Spinney is not permitted for any reason. There is evidence that many such fires have badly burned the stems of trees, rendering them potentially dangerous and often killing them.
Removal of trees and other vegetation
No householder is permitted to remove existing trees, shrubbery or undergrowth in the Spinney. Further, householders are not permitted to cut or lop trees, perform tree surgery, or to cut or remove under-storey or herbaceous vegetation within the Spinney. This includes the removal of wood for purposes such as firewood.
All tree-related health and safety issues will be assessed by the City Council either through cyclical inspections, ad-hoc site visits or investigating general enquiries and the appropriate action taken. However, householders may make arrangements to prune encroachment onto their property by Spinney trees subject to obtaining permission from the Council's Planning Section.
The City Council’s policy is for felled or fallen wood in the Spinney to remain in situ to degrade through natural processes but householders may remove fallen wood from the driveway to the side of the driveway.
New planting
No planting by householders is permitted within the Spinney. This includes encroachment upon/colonization of the Spinney borders along the access drives by planting of ornamental shrubs, flowers, etc., to provide perceived enhancement. Such planting may subsequently spread into the adjacent woodland and smother native species.
Structures
Nothing may be attached to any tree or shrub in the Spinney. No permanent, semi-permanent or temporary structures are to be erected within the Spinney, such as tents, sheds, barbecue sites or children’s dens and play equipment. The ban includes plastic slides and structures in the tree canopies, such as ropes/swings, climbing apparatus or tree houses. Ropes are often left in place after use, which may eventually sever the tree limb.
Alterations to driveways
Driveways within the Spinney may not be widened, re-aligned, extended with new arms or otherwise altered in such a way as to encroach further upon or compromise the Spinney. There must also be no additions within the Spinney such as turning points, loading areas or parking bays.
No alternative soft or hard accesses over the Spinney will be permitted, either on a temporary or permanent basis, except temporarily with written consent of the City Council where there is a need to open up an overgrown right of way.
Compliance/enforcement
It is expected that, with immediate effect, householders will respect and observe these Rules and Regulations when planning or executing any new works to a driveway which crosses the Spinney. The City Council will monitor compliance and enforce these Rules and Regulations where it considers it appropriate to do so to secure compliance, if necessary by court action. This is essential to ensure that the nationally important woodland of the Spinney is conserved for the benefit of future generations, retaining the integrity of a native woodland with outstanding amenity and landscape value so that it will remain a permanent visual and recreational asset on this important entrance route into the City.
As regards existing infringements of these Rules and Regulations at the time of circulation of the Rules and Regulations to householders in April 2013, the City Council hopes that as good neighbours of the Spinney, current householders will take responsibility for past actions and bring the driveways into compliance voluntarily within 90 days from 5th April 2013. However, the City Council reserves the right to enforce these Rules and Regulations in relation to existing infringements where it considers it appropriate to do so, if necessary by court action. As an immediate measure, pending removal of gates installed at driveway entrances to Kenilworth Road, the City Council expects that householders will leave these gates open at all times so as not to obstruct public access to the Spinney.
Exceptional cases
The City Council recognises that in the very few cases where householders purchased the strip of land on which their driveway through the Spinney is situated, the City Council is unable to exercise total control over actions/matters affecting the driveway. However, such actions/matters will be subject to normal planning requirements (as applicable), and the City Council will not tolerate any encroachment on, or nuisance to, the City Council's neighbouring land within the Spinney.
The Council of the City of Coventry 5 April 2013
Print a copy of the rules of the Kenilworth Road conservation area. [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/38547/kenilworth-road-spinney-rules-and-regulations]
History
Stivichall - Godiva to Gregory
In 1043 Earl Leofric of Mercia ( and Godiva his wife) founded Coventry Priory, a Benedictine monastery, giving the monks one half of their estates. The Earl's half (mainly the Southern part of Coventry) later passed to the Earls of Chester who, in the 12th century, granted several chapelries including Stivichall to the Priory. During the reign of Henry VIII the Priory was closed down and all its land surrendered to the Crown. In 1547 the Stivichall Estate was sold and over the next few centuries had various owners until after 1740 when the Gregory family acquired total ownership.
In 1909 the last of the family (Major F H Gregory) died childless and the estate passed to his cousin - the Honourable Alexander Hood who assumed the name of Gregory. After World War I he sold 121 acres in the north of the parish to Coventry Corporation later to form the War Memorial Park which opened in 1921. Major C H Gregory-Hood succeeded his father in 1927 and shortly afterwards sold the rest of the estate to Coventry Corporation.
History of the Kenilworth Road
Coventry was once within the Forest of Arden - in 1250 the Constable of Warwickshire was commanded to cut six acres of wood between Coventry and Warwick for the security of foot passengers. The road towards Kenilworth was first recorded in 1313.
The road traversed Stivichall Estate, and further to the south the Stoneleigh Estate which, in 1153, was granted to Cistercian monks who founded Stoneleigh Abbey. During the dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey was closed and the estate later passed into ownership of the Leigh family who sold it in part to Coventry City Council in 1926.
Flora and fauna
English oak and Turkey oak (introduced from Turkey in 1735) are both planted in the spinneys. Turkey oak has a 'mossy' acorn cup, deeply grooved bark and long, narrow leaves.
The most common species after oak are beech, sycamore, ash and sweet chestnut, of which there are some fine specimens over 200 years old. There are over 800 beech - their leaves turn golden-bronze in autumn making the avenue a spectacular sight. The red-brown nuts mature in October and are known as 'mast'.
Elder, hazel, hawthorn and holly provide fruits for birds - holly berries are enjoyed by thrushes, starlings and wood pigeons. Holly can be found in large amounts in places - its small white flowers with their four waxy petals appear in May. Rhododendron was planted in the Gibbet Hill area in 1949 - its purple flowers (often tinged pink) open in June.
Cuckoo pint (also called wild arum or lords and ladies) is evident around the spinneys. It has arrow-shaped leaves (often purple spotted) and a stem which when mature unfurls to resemble a monks cowl. Inside is a purplish spike with flowers at its base from which red berries develop.
Grey squirrels and rabbits live in the spinneys. There are so many squirrels that they have become a nuisance. There have also been reports of foxes and Muntjac deer in some areas.
Just past Gibbet Hill, high in the oak canopy, is a rookery. In the cull of 1951 two birds per nest were killed as they were considered harmful to the Agricultural Expansion Programme.
Wainbody Wood
A walk around Wainbody Wood
Go through the wooden gate, then take the path slightly to your left and follow its circular route around the wood. This path was shown on the 1886 survey map. It is brick-based but may still be muddy in places, so be careful!
Planted alongside the roadside is rhododendron ponticum (wild rhododendron) and numerous oaks. The oak can be recognised in winter by the brown buds set alternatively on the twig with a cluster around the tip. On the right you will pass a number of young silver fir which have coarse, flattened needles set in two ranks. The underside of each needle has a silvery-white band of resin which helps reduce water loss. The group of three sweet chestnuts on the left are all over 200 years old, their bark is a notable feature since it becomes grooved in a spiral pattern.
Hazel, holly and elder are common shrubs throughout the wood. Using holly in the home at Christmas comes from the old superstition that by doing so you would be defended from lightning and protect yourself from witchcraft (from the 1640 Theatrum Botanicum).
Appearing in spring are many colourful wildflowers such as bluebells, wood sorrel and greater stitchwort. Wood sorrel is a pretty little herb with delicate white flowers and leaves resembling those of clover. Greater stitchwort has star-like white flowers and narrow lance-like leaves. The name stitchwort dates from the 13th century. It was probably used to cure stitch in the side or any sudden pricking pain.
The woodland undergrowth is dominated by ferns and bramble. Bramble produces white or pink flowers from June to September and then blackberries which ripen in autumn. Bracken is the most common fern, its fresh green fronds appear in mid-April and are present until October when they turn brown and die. Male fern produces leaves (fronds) from an underground rhizome. On the underside of the fronds tiny structures develop containing the spores which will eventually produce new plants. A large plant may produce several hundred spores in a season.
Walking along the bottom path, parallel to the railway embankment, you will pass several young Douglas fir in a line. These can be distinguished from silver fir by the narrow needles which stand out all around the twig giving a feathery appearance, they are also softer to the touch. Just before the path turns away from the embankment, look left to see an excellent silver fir - one of the fastest growing conifers for height and timber volume.
European and hybrid larch are both deciduous conifers. Hybrid larch is the least common and is a cross between European and Japanese larch. They can be told apart by the cones - the hybrid cones are tallest and the scales are curved outwards.
Scots pine has a reddish bark with needles in pairs. The woody cones take two years to mature and release their winged seeds - look out for grey squirrels which eat them.
Flowering during summer are willowherb, red campion, yellow pimpernel, foxgloves and many others. The speckled wood butterfly is a common sight and is on the wing from March to September.
Several sorts of fungi are evident - you may smell stinkhorn long before you see it. The young fruiting bodies appear on the woodland floor as white egg-shaped objects. Then these mature and burst and the stalk grows up bearing a conical cap covered in an olive-green slime, attracting flies which then spread the spores. Despite its unpleasant appearance and smell it was used in the middle ages for the preparation of a love potion.
Woodland paths
In 1994 a 300m path was made that is suitable for wheelchair users. The entrance is off a small cul-de-sac called The Spinney.
There is no official public access to Wainbody Wood South (also known as Tuesday's Wood) because on three sides it is landlocked with the railway line to the north west. It is a designated conservation area.
History
The name 'Wainbody' comes from two words 'Waegn' meaning wain or wagon and 'Boda', an old English personal name - the probable meaning is 'Boda's Wagon'.
This old woodland was originally part of the Stoneleigh Estate owned by Lord Leigh. It was probably managed to produce timber for building, small sticks for a variety of uses (produced by coppicing) and firewood. In 1844 it was split by the Coventry to Leamington railway, cutting off access to the southern half.
The northern half is 30 acres of mixed wood and access is through a wooden gate from the Kenilworth Road.
Woodland Management
This is one of the larger woods in the city measuring 26 hectares (70 acres) and divided by the Coventry - Leamington railway line. It used to be managed to provide timber for the Stoneleigh Estate and to rear pheasants for shooting.
The present management is looking to reintroduce coppicing, together with ride, glade and pond management. The south west boundary of the southern half is fenced to prevent rabbit damage to neighbouring crops.
Coppicing carried out since 1995 can be seen in the south east corner of the wood next to the railway line.
Don't forget the Country Code
- Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
- Guard against all risk of fire.
- Fasten all gates.
- Keep dogs under control.
- Keep to public paths across farmland.
- Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
- Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
- Take your litter home.
- Help to keep all water clean.
- Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
- Make no unnecessary noise.
Horse riding is not allowed in any of these woodlands.