Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

The banks of the Effra tributary support yellow iris, fool's water-cress, pendulous sedge, great willowherb and hemlock water-dropwort. In damp grassland near the stream grows cuckooflower. The northernmost pond is fairly secluded and features an island of rhododendron and bracken. Purple-loosestrife, buddleia and crack-willow occur on the banks where coots and moorhens may be seen. The central pond is fringed by a mix of native and non-native trees, including willow, ash, hawthorn, sycamore, swamp cypress and blue Atlas cedar. The most extensive habitat in the park is the close-mown grassland. Less frequently mown patches support a number of wildflowers, including common and sheep's sorrels, and pignut. This ‘meadow parkland' has been slowly extended over time and is now quite a feature of the park. There are a number of fine specimen trees in the park, including two veteran oaks in the southeast appearing to belong to an old field boundary. The numerous ornamental trees include maidenhair tree and Caucasian wingnut. Unusual birds for such an urban area are regularly seen here, including sparrowhawks, little owls, bramblings and lesser spotted woodpeckers.

Facilities

Toilets; playground; picnic area; cafe; outdoor swimming pool; miniature railway; historic features