The Green Line
GREEN LINE, WEST BRIDGFORD (SINC)
Grassland and scrub
The Green Line was part of the old Midland railway running from St. Pancras, London to Nottingham Midland Station via Lady Bay. It was opened in 1879 and finally closed in 1969. A clay pit and brickworks, now the Ludlow Hill industrial estate, was served by a short spur from the main line. Although parts were proposed for housing it was decided in 1988 that the section between Melton and Boundary Road should be retained as open space. Rushcliffe Borough Council now maintains the line with help from volunteers of the Green Line Group and the Notts Wildlife Trust.
A VALUABLE LOCAL RESOURCE
Despite running into central West Bridgford the line supports a surprising array of wildlife with over 180 plant species, 15 birds and 10 butterflies and moths being recorded. The diversity of plants and animals reflects the variety of habitats ranging from the damper, sheltered cutting in the south with woodland and meadow to the drier, sunnier areas of the embankment to the north. This makes the line a valuable area for fieldwork by local schools. Access has been provided by the Borough Council at Devonshire Road, Melton Road and Boundary Road and the Green Line has great value as a walkway, giving exhilarating views of the city and providing a valuable green lung in this closely built up area. The clay pit has exposed the geology of red sedimentary Mercia Mudstones that are interbedded with grey bands or skerry beds.
WALKING THE GREEN LINE
The embankment is raised above the surrounding land and catches the sun providing good conditions for butterflies and other insects. The slopes are covered with hawthorn scrub which provides valuable breeding and feeding sites for many small birds. As you walk along the embankment look out for the many different butterflies and birds.
The cutting differs from the embankment in that its banks are shaded and the soil is derived from the underlying Mercia Mudstones. The cutting supports woodland and in places grassland rich in wildflowers.
1. Views of the City (Melton Rd entrance)
From the end of the embankment you get a fine view of the city skyline. You can see:
Sneinton Windmill, The Council House, Nottm. Forest F.C and Nottingham Castle. The slope at the end of the embankment also supports a good number of wildflowers.
2. Devonshire Road Bridge
This is the last remaining railway bridge in West Bridgford. It provides a vital link between the two parts of the embankment and is considered by many to be an attractive feature of the Green Line and Devonshire Road.
3. The tracksides
The top of the embankment is covered with railway clinker which provides a hot dry habitat for a number of species including red valerian and firethorn with its red berries.
4. Wildflower Banks
The banks of the cutting been cleared of scrub by local volunteers to encourage the array of wildflowers that have colonised this part of the Line. Ox-eye daisy, quaking grass, common knapweed and cowslips all can be seen here.
5. Geological Exposure
If you look over the fence to the face of the old clay pit you can see the exposure of the Mercia Mudstones (Keuper Marl). The red bands are mudstones which are marked by occasional grey bands known as skerry beds. The skerries are comprised of coarser grains than the red mudstones and can also contain a high proportion of gypsum. There are still active gypsum workings in Nottinghamshire today.
6. Woodland and Scrub
The banks of the cutting at this end of the Green Line support sycamore woodland and scrub dominated by hawthorn. The sycamore and hawthorn trees cast a dense shade preventing the growth of many species. The intention is to thin parts of the woodland and encourage the development of a structure and ground flora. Violets, stinking hellebore, honeysuckle and rose can all be seen here.
ACCESS
The northern entrance is on Melton Rd on the right, just after the Musters Rd traffic lights. The alternative is to park in the Rushcliffe Leisure Centre car park and walk onto Boundary Rd and look for the bridge off to the right.
The above information is based on an information sheet published in 1992 and may not be up to date in all respects, some grassland and scrub management has been carried out in the last 4 years, by NWT and RBC.
Map from Natural England – www.natureonthemap.co.uk
