Our Area
Warwickshire
Wildlife Trust operates within the area of Warwickshire, Coventry
and Solihull, a total land area of about 2,000 sq.km in a diamond
shape, extending to nearly 100 km (60 miles) north to south. The
majority of the population of one million live in the city of
Coventry and in the towns of Solihull, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Rugby,
Leamington Spa, Warwick and Stratford.
Outside the urban centres, a dozen market towns and countless
villages are scattered throughout the county. In economic terms the
area includes some of the wealthiest parts of England, with areas
such as Solihull and Leamington Spa consistently amongst the top
retail locations in the country. Yet it also includes significant
deprivation in parts of Coventry, north Solihull, and in isolated
parts of the rural county.
Physically, the land is generally flat, with higher areas along the
ridge of older rocks from Nuneaton to Atherstone, and in the
south-east where the limestone of the Cotswolds rises. Most of the
area's water drains to the south-west and the Irish Sea through the
Avon and its key tributaries the Arrow, Stour, Leam, Sowe and
Swift, yet the north and eastern parts drain northwards into the
Tame and its tributaries the Anker, Cole and Blythe, heading to the
Trent and the North Sea beyond.
Since the industrial revolution the whole area has been home to
major industries, with coal mining, textiles, engineering, motor
manufacturing and cement production playing key roles. Although
most of these have declined today, their legacy remains. The
development of the road network, including five motorways, has
transformed Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull into a strategic
transport link as well as a new location for many businesses. There
are two major rail lines crossing the county and linking with the
main aviation centre at Birmingham International Airport. The
canals (the Grand Union, Oxford, Coventry and Stratford Canals) are
no longer used for commercial transport but provide a vibrant
recreational network. Tourism is now a key business, with national
attractions Warwick Castle and Shakespeare's Stratford on Avon
attracting thousands of visitors each year, and the National
Exhibition Centre, National Agricultural Centre and Ricoh Arena
bringing further visitors for special events.
