Kinson Common covers an area of just over 16 hectares. In 1988, the heathland of the Common together with nearby Turbary Common was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, due to the presence of important plant and invertebrate species (paticularly on the wet heath) and because of the site's location within an urban setting. Then in 1997, Kinson Common was given Local Nature Reserve status.

Habitat Types
Although Kinson Common is a small area, it exhibits a rich variety of habitats.During spring and summer of 2001, local botanist Felicity Woodhead carried out a comprehensive National Vegetation Classification survey that identified a suggested 12 habitat categories. The main habitats are summarised below:

Dry Heath occurs on the higher ground each side of the bog. To the south of the bog, the vegetation is dominated by common heather Calluna vulgaris and common gorse Ulex europeaus with bell heather Erica cinerea, dwarf gorse Ulex minor and bristle bent Agrostis curtissii. To the north, the heath comprises acid grassland dominated by bristle bent.

Humid and Wet Heathis found in the low-lying bog extending west to east across the centre of the Common. Large areas are dominated by purple moor grass Molinia caerulea, with cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix, common heather and deergrass Trichophorumcespitosum. The wetter areas have a particularly varied and interesting bog plant community with a number of less common species.

Scrub is found throughout the Common, the largest areas occuring to the west of the pond where the species are pedunculate oak Quercus robur and hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. 

Willow Carr occurs as two blocks; one at either end of the shallow valley running east-west across the centre of the Common.

Woodland on the Common is dominated by pedunculate oak but includes a number of other common deciduous species, for example, silver birch Betula pendula, rowan Sorbus aucuparia and hazel Coryllus avellana. There are two main woodland areas, one in the south-eastern corner and the other to the east of the grassland of Poole Lane Meadows.

Grassland. The principal area of grassland occurs along the western edge of the Common. This block can be divided into two: the western half being maintained as short turf for informal recreation and the eastern half being managed as hay meadow. Other areas of rough grassland occur throughout the Common, especially towards the north-west and south-east. Here, there is a tendency for coarse grass species to dominate but a number of typical grassland herb species also occur.

Marsh is represented as a low-lying area towards the north of the Common that was created as part of a flood alleviation scheme. The area has been rapidly colonised by a number of typical wetland species.

OpenWater. Two streams converge on the Common and flow north into a small holding pond that is also part of the flood alleviation scheme. Throughout the bog area, there are a number of shallow bog pools of varying size. An additional two ponds were created here in 1993.
 
This range of habitats results in a varied and interesting flora and fauna, including over 350 species of plant, 3 reptile species, 40 species of breeding birds, with an additional 20 as winter visitors/ migrants. 24 species of butterfly, 19 species of dragonfly and damselfly and cricket, numerous insects and spiders and several mammal species.
As well as being managed as open space for people to use and enjoy, Kinson Common is managed for its wildlife value. Work carried out includes the creation of open areas for wild flowers and insects and scrub for nesting birds. There is also yearly mowing of the meadow to encourage wild flower growth.
As well as wildlife, the Common also has much historical interest. Palaeolithic implements were found between 1927 and 1934, and various small flint implements from the Neolithic and Bronze ages have been found over the years. There are also 2 Bronze Age Barrows on the Common, unexcavated and in reasonable condition.

Birds of Kinson Common

 

Meadow Pipet-Pied Wagtail-Grey Wagtail-Starling-Bullfinch-Redpoll-Goldfinch-Chaffinch-Greenfinch-Reed Bunting-House Sparrow-Comorant f/o-Heron-Mallard-Teal-Buzzard-Sparrowhawk-Kestrel-Morrhen-Snipe-Jack Snipe-Common Sandpiper-Herring Gull-Greater Black-backed Gull-Black Headed Gull-Lesser Black Backed Gull-Wood Pigeon-Collared Dove-Tawny Owl-Swift f/o-Kingfisher-green Woodpecker-Great Spotted Woodpecker-Swallow f/o-House Martin-f/o-Carrion Crow-Rook-Jackdaw-Magpie-Jay-Great Tit-Blue Tit-Long Tailed Tit-Coal Tit-Nuthatch-Tree Creeper-Mistle Thrush-Fieldfare-Song Thrush-Redwing-Blackbird-Robin-Blackcap-Willow Warbler-Chiffchaff-Whitethroat-Goldcrest-Spotted Flycatcher-Dunnock-Siskin-Mute Swan-Water Rail-Woodcock-Pheasant-Cuckoo-Wren-Redstart-Reed Warbler-Dartford Warbler-Linnet-Ring Necked Parakeet-Hoopoe ?-Raven-Wheatear-Hobby-Firecrest-Lapwing-Red Kite-Little Egret-Mandarin duck

 

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Emerald damselfly-Large red damselfly-Azure damselfly-Common blue damselfly-Blue tailed damselfly-Beautiful demoiselle-Banded demoiselle-White legged damselfly

Migrant hawker-Souther hawker-Emperor dragonfly-Golden ringed dragonfly-Four spotted chaser-Scarce chaser-Broad bodied chaser-Keeled skimmer-Common darter-Black tailed skimmer

Amphibians

Common frog-Common toad-Palmate newt

 

Reptiles

Grass snake-Adder-Slow worm-Common lizard

Mammals


Fox-Badger-Roe deer

7 species of bats have now been recorded-Soprano pipistrelle-Common pipistrelle-Noctule-Serotine-Natterer's-Leisler's-Brown long-eared

Butterflies

Small skipper                       Thymelicus sylvestris    
Essex skipper                       T. lineola
Large skipper                      Ochlodes venata
Clouded yellow                    Colias crocea
Brimstone                           Gonepteryx rhamni
Large white                        Pieris brassica
Small white                         P. rapae
Green-veined white             P. napi
Orange tip                           Anthocharis cardamines
Green hairstreak                  Callophrys rubi
Purple hairstreak                 Quercusia quercus
Small copper                       Lycaena phlaeas
Brown argus                        Aricia agestis
Common blue                      Polymattus icarus
Holly blue                            Celastrina argiolus
Red admiral                         Vanessa atalanta
Painted lady                        Cynthia cardui
Small tortoiseshell                Aglais urticae
Peacock                              Inachis io
Comma                               Poligonia c-album
Silver-washed fritillary         Argynnis paphia
Speckled wood                    Parage aegaria
Marbled white                     Melanargia galthea
Grayling                              Hipparchia semele
Gatekeeper                         Pyronia tithonus
Meadow brown                    Maniola jurtina
Small heath                         Coenonympha pamphilus

Other insects

Longhorn Beetle-Shield Bug-Soldier Beetle-7 Spot Ladybird-Weevil-Ground Beetle-Hover Fly- Volucella inanis-Robber Fly-Green Lacewing-

Scorpion Fly-Flesh Fly-Green Bottle-Meadow Grasshopper-Common Green Grasshopper-

Blue Bottle-Red-tailed Bumble Bee-

Buff-Tailed Bumble Bee-Common Wasp-Crab Spider-Dark Bush Cricket-Long Winged Conehead-Hunting Spider-Wolf Spider-Jumping Spider-Wasp Spider-Sheet -Web Spider-Sloe bug-Fat legged flower beetle-Deraeocoris ruber

Speckled Bush Cricket-Angular orb-weaver spider ( rare in U.K)-Harlequin ladybird-Short winged conehead-Common field grasshopper-

Harvestman-Forest bug-Hover fly- Eristalis arbustorum-Tachnid fly- Tachina fera

Raft Spider-

 

 

 

VASCULAR PLANT LIST

Remote sedge-Flea sedge-Ribbed sedge-Star sedge-Hairy sedge-Prickly sedge-Pill-headed sedge-Pendulous sedge-Oval sedge-Carnation sedge-Common yellow sedge-False fox sedge-Common sedge-Sweet chestnut-Rose-bay willow-herb -Greater celandine-Serbian bellflower-Peach leaved bellflower -Fat-hen -Corn marigold- Enchanter's-nightshade-Creeping thistle-Black knapweed-Greater knapweed-Common mouse-ear-Sticky mouse-ear-Wavy bitter-cress-Hairy bitter-cress-Cuckooflower-Large bindweed-Hedge bindweed-Commom heather-Water-starwort-Box-Shepherd's purse-Silver birch-Downy birch-Hard fern-Soft brome-White bryony-Buddleja-Daisy harebell-Field maple-Norway maple-Sycamore-Yarrow-Ground elder-Horse chestnut-Early hair-grass-Garlic mustard-Common water plantain-Brown bent-Creeping bent-Black bent-Bristle bent-Comon bent-Wildonion-Three cornered leek-Meadow foxtail-Amelanchier-Scarlet pimpernel-Bog pimpernel-Wild angelica-False oat-grass-Lesser burdock-Strawberry tree-Thale cress-Cow parsley-Sweet vernal grass-Barren brome-Mugwort-Lords-and-ladies-Aster-Lady fern-Early flowering yellow rocket- Meadow thistle Hazel -Lesser swine-cress - Field bindweed -Pignut – Hemlock- Spear thistle- Marsh thistle- Cotoneaster (Simonsii) -Cotoneaster(Sternianus) - Cotoneaster (Suecicus)- Hawthorn- Smooth hawk's-beard Beaked hawk's- beard -Montbretia -Tufted hair-grass -Southern marsh orchid- Heath-spotted orchid -Early marsh orchid- Cocksfoot- Broom -Crested dog's tail -Foxglove - Oblong-leaved sundew - Round-leaved sundew- Scaly male fern - Broad buckler fern -Male fern -Many-stemmed spike-rush-Lesser hairy willow-herb -Marsh willow-herb- Dull-leaved willow-herb -Broad-leaved willow-herb - Great hairy willow-herb -American willow-herb- Common couch - Square-stemmed willow-herb -Common horsetail - Marsh horsetail- Bell heather- Cross-leaved heath -Common cotton grass Common storks-bill -Sheep's fescue -Fine-leaved sheep's fescue -Black bindweed - Beech -Petty spurge -Sun spurge -Hemp agrimony-Red fescue –Meadowsweet- Alder buckthorn – Ash- Common ramping-fumitory Cleavers Marsh bedstraw-Floating sweet-grass- Ground ivy - Wood avens -Herb -Robert -Dove's-foot crane's- bill- Cut-leaved crane's –bill- Heath bedstraw- Marsh cudweed- Ivy –Hogweed- Hawkweed(H.trichocaulon)- Hawkweed(H.umbellatum) - Yorkshire fog -Creeping soft-grass- Hypericum- Tutsan -Marsh pennywort -Bluebell- Garden bluebell –Hop- Wall barley- Rose-of-sharon- Perforate St.John's Wort -Common cat's-ear -Holly -Yellow iris- Sheep's-bit - Sharp-flowered rush- Field scabious -Japanese kerria- Hard rush -Soft rush- Compact rush -Toad rush -Jointed rush- White dead-nettle -Red dead-nettle- Nipplewort-Broad-leaved everlasting pea- Meadow vetchling- Common duckweed -Autumn hawkbit -Honeysuckle -Perennial ryegrass- Common toadflax -Purple toadflax - Privet -Garden privet- Ox-eye daisy-Common bird's-foot-trefoil- Greater bird'-foot-trefoil- Honesty- Field wood-rush-White woodrush- Heath wood-rush –Gipsywort- Common cow-wheat- Black medic- Pineapple weed -Cultivated apple -Purple-loosestrife- Yellow loosestrife- Creeping jenny- snapdragon- Purple moor-grass -Grape hyacinth- Wood forget-me-not -Bog asphodel- Red bartsia- Hemlock water-dropwort- Lousewort -Virginia creeper -Pellitory-of-the-wall- Yellow oxalis -Pink oxalis -Royal fern -Bird's -foot -Green alkanet -Water-pepper -Pale persicaria –Redshank- Reed canary-grass -Small cat's-tail- Timothy-Annual meadow-grass -Greater plantain -Ribwort plantain -Buck's-horn plantain -Pale butterwort- Mouse-ear hawkweed -Hart's-tongue fern - Flattened poa -Smooth meadow-grass - Rough meadow-grass- Heath milkwort- Knotgrass(P.arenastrum) -Knotgrass(P.aviculare) -Soft shield fern- Primrose -Creeping cinquefoil-Tormentil- Silverweed -Bog pondweed- Broad-leaved pondweed - White poplar- Selfheal -Cherry plum -Wild plum -Cherry laurel- Portuguese cherry laurel- Blackthorn- Bracken- Lesser spearwort -Lesser celandine - Bulbous buttercup -Meadow buttercup- Pedunculate oak - Scarlet firethorn –Fleabane- Creeping buttercup-Wild radish- Rhododendron -Stag horn sumac- White beak-sedge- Black currant- Red currant- Round leaved fluellen -Bramble- Rose(R.stylosa)- Rose(R.rugosa) - Sweet briar -Dog rose- Field rose- Water-cress- Raspberry -Sheep's sorrel -Common sorrel - Clustered dock -Curled dock - Broad-leaved dock -Wood dock - Lesser skullcap -Common figwort -Elder - Grey willow -Goat willow –Procumbent pearlwort- Annual pearlwort -Common ragwort - Wood groundsel- Groundsel -Red campion-Hedge mustard Bittersweet Black nightshade-Corn spurrey -Branched bur-reed- Rowan - Whitebeam -Smooth sow-thistle- Prickly sow-thistle -Golden-rod -Sand spurrey-Spiraea -Field woundwort- Bettony- Marsh woundwort- Hedge woundwort -Lesser stitchwort- Black bryony- Lilac Snowberry-Devil's-bit scabious -Bog stitchwort -Common chickweed- Greater stitchwort- Tansy- Dandelion- Yew- Fringe cap- Scentless mayweed -Common reedmace - Common gorse- Wood sage -Common lime- Lesser trefoil- Red clover -White clover- Subterraneum clover - Dwarf gorse- Wood speedwell -Ivy-leaved speedwell-Germander speedwell -Brooklime -Wall speedwell - Slender speedwell -Dutch elm- Common field speedwell -Thyme-leaved speedwell -Guelder-rose -Tufted vetch -Hairy tare - Common vetch(V.sativa nigra).- Common vetch(V.sativa sativa) -Smooth tare- Lesser periwinkle- Field pansy-Sweet violet Pale wood violet Common dog violet -Squirreltail fescue -Star Bethlehem –Cornflower- Round leaved water crowfoot -Common nettle -Wild mustard