Industrial Secret

This is the King's Meadow Nature Reserve in Lenton. It is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, or, less fancily, a Local Wildlife Site. Local Wildlife Sites are, according to the Wildlife Trust's website, 'selected for their nature conservation value, based on important, distinctive and threatened habitats and species'. Parts of the area around here were once crossed by railway lines that led from the mainline to North Wilford Power Station and the colliery immediately to the north of it.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust tells us that, 'This very special reserve was created in 1992 as a receptor site for flora and fauna that would otherwise have been destroyed by development on the [nearby] former Wilford Power Station.' It further notes that, 'in 1995 large sections of vegetated ash turf were successfully translocated from the power station site.'

I don't know about you, but I love a bit of vegetated ash turf.

The reserve was colonised by orchids, as well as 'Other species typical of sparsely-vegetated, man-made sites', 'creating a very unusual post-industrial grassland habitat of high conservation value.'

Some might say that this little nature reserve, with its industrial memory traces, is no oil painting, but, by virtue of its origins and location, it has a unique, compelling character that sets it apart from its more celebrated brethren.

North Wilford Power Station, most of which was in the area that is today bounded by Electric Avenue, Tottle Road and Queens Drive, was opened on 17 September 1925 by the Chairman of Nottingham's Electricity Committee, Alderman Edmund Huntsman.

Huntsman was to become Mayor of Nottingham in 1927 and was chairman of the University College Council for a number of years. According to the University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections website, he is said to have 'persuaded Jesse Boot to donate the park land at Highfields and contribute towards the financing of University College Nottingham' and, as Mayor, been 'instrumental in the construction of the Council House in Old Market Square.' Not too shabby.

On opening day, after inspecting the power station, the lucky guests and dignitaries were conveyed to the Palais de Dance, where they ate lobster and roast partridge, toasted all and sundry and were entertained by a musical programme featuring pieces by composers including Offenbach, Coates and Bizet, with the delightful-sounding 'The Nigger's Birthday' by German composer Paul Lincke as its finale.

Having been extended over the years, the power station was eventually closed and demolished in the early 1980s, but in a small way it lives on to this day.

Illustration of North Wilford Power Station [1]

North Wilford Power Station turbine room interior [2]

[1] From the Nottingham Official Handbook (Twelfth Edition)

[2] From a City of Nottingham brochure entitled 'Official starting of 20,000 kilowatt turbo-alternator at North Wilford Power Station, 7th November, 1928'