Kinver Edge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kinver Edge is a high heath and woodland escarpment just west of Kinver, about four miles west of Stourbridge, and four miles north of Kidderminster, and is on the border between Worcestershire and Staffordshire, England.
[edit] History
Kinver Edge is a remnant of the Mercian forest. At its summit is an Iron Age hill fort.
Kinver Edge is home to the last troglodyte dwellings occupied in England, with a set of complete houses excavated into the local sandstone. One of the rocks, "Holy Austin", was a hermitage until the Restoration. The Holy Austin rock houses were inhabited until the 1950s. They are now owned by the National Trust.
[edit] Geography
Kinver Edge is situated to the east of the Severn Valley, and is in the South Staffordshire/Wyre Forest Districts. It is situated in Green Belt land, and is at the very edge of the Urban Metropolitan West Midlands. Kinver Edge rises to 164 metres above sea level at the summit, and provides excellent views to the Clent Hills, Shatterford Hill, Dudley, Wenlock Edge, Malvern Hills and the Shropshire Hills.
The Edge is topped with Bunter pebbles, and has recently been found to be eroding badly. It is now owned by the National Trust. The Staffordshire Way passes over the summit.
The heathland and woodland on Kinver Edge are a haven for the local wildlife, with Adder and Common Lizard present on the heaths, and Common Buzzard, Eurasian Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Badger, Red Fox, and many other bird species present in the woods.The area around the summit is mainly Heathland, with Birch, Oak and Sweet Chestnut trees in the woods at the northern end. Kingsford Country Park is on the southern end of the ege, and entirely in Worcestershire. It is made up of Coniferous plantation woodlands, and is popular for mountain biking.
