Riverside Park

Biodiversity Networks:
Interconnected systems of different species and habitats that support the overall variety of life in an area.

Brownfield Site:
Land that has been previously developed, often for industrial or commercial purposes, which may have complex land use history.

Catchment (Flashy):
An area of land where rainfall collects and drains into a river, with "flashy" referring to rapid fluctuations in water levels.

Community Orchard:
An orchard managed by local volunteers for community enjoyment, conservation, and biodiversity.

Copse Plantations:
Small groups of trees, often planted, within a meadow or grassland area.

Cultivars:
Plants that have been selectively bred and cultivated by humans for specific desirable traits.

Flora:
The plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

Fauna:
The animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

Green Infrastructure:
A network of natural and semi-natural areas that provides environmental, social, and economic benefits to communities.

Hay Meadow:
A grassland area managed by cutting and removing the herbage late in the season, which promotes a rich and dense flora.

Hedgerow Scrub:
Dense vegetation forming a boundary or a thicket, often composed of shrubs and small trees.

Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera):
An invasive non-native plant known for colonizing riverbanks and outcompeting native herbaceous plants.

Improved Grassland:
Grassland that has been modified, often through fertilisation or reseeding with specific grasses, to increase its agricultural productivity.

Introduced Species:
Species that have been brought into an area by human activity, either intentionally or accidentally, from their native range.

Invasive Non-Native Species:
Introduced species that spread rapidly and cause ecological or economic harm, often out competing native species.

Lichens:
Composite organisms consisting of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (algae or cyanobacteria) living in a symbiotic relationship.

Neutral Grassland:
Grassland growing on soils with a pH that is neither strongly acidic nor strongly alkaline.

Otter Sandstone:
A geological formation, specifically a type of sandstone, underlying certain areas like Sid Meadow.

Parkland:
An area of land with widely spaced mature trees set in grass, often managed for aesthetic and recreational purposes.

Pollinators:
Animals, usually insects, that transfer pollen from one flower to another, enabling plant reproduction.

Recovering Grassland Site:
A grassland area that was historically used for agriculture but is now being managed to restore its natural ecological diversity.

Rough Grassland:
Grassland characterised by taller, coarser grasses and a less manicured appearance, often indicating less intensive management.

Scrub:
An area of land covered with low-growing vegetation, typically consisting of shrubs and small trees.

Semi-improved Grassland:
Grassland that has been partially modified or managed, but still retains some natural characteristics and biodiversity.

Shingle Deposits:
Accumulations of small, rounded stones or pebbles, often found along riverbeds or coastlines.

Sid Vale Association (SVA):
A local organisation involved in the ownership and management of natural areas, with a focus on conservation and community involvement.

School Weir:
A man-made barrier across a river, specifically mentioned as an obstacle for fish migration.

Umbelifers:
A family of flowering plants (Apiaceae) characterised by their flower clusters arranged in umbrella-like structures (umbels), often providing nectar and pollen for insects.

Water Margin:
The edge of a body of water, such as a river, where specific types of plants adapted to wet conditions can be found.

Wildflower
Diversity: The variety of native flowering plant species found in a particular area.