Local Wildlife Site

Wildlife

Some of the many fine, mature tree specimens include horse-chestnut, hybrid black poplar, Turkey oak, London plane and common lime. Ash is the chief native tree. On the southeastern edge of the park, at the end of Eastern Road, is a small area native woodland ash and pedunculated oak with mature hawthorn, blackthorn and elder as a scrubby understory. The ground flora consists of common nettle, bramble, cleavers and a little stinking iris, which here is probably a garden escape. This area supports a surprisingly large community of butterflies, including meadow brown, speckled wood and small tortoiseshell. Many of the birds familiar in parks and gardens frequent this area, including song thrush and house sparrow. To the south, towards Adelaide Avenue, is an area of semi-improved neutral grassland. Here the strict grassland management regime adopted over other parts of the park has been relaxed. The result is a meadow with a surprisingly high range of grasses. No less than 12 species have been catalogued, including creeping bent, false oat-grass, cock's-foot, red fescue, meadow barley, small cat's-tail, crested-dog's tail and pepper saxifrage. A loggery for stag beetle has been created.

Facilities

Café; sports amenities; play area