EcoPark

As you would expect from a Wildlife Trust site (although not necessarily one in the middle of such a built up area) EcoPark is full of wildlife. The ponds are home to a large population of frogs and newts with dragonflies buzzing around the surface in the summer and plenty of smaller creatures for the children to discover when pond dipping. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators fill the air in summer thanks to the plentiful flower-rich areas for them to feed on. Minibeasts of every size and shape have all the homes they need to thrive provide a wealth of interest to the most inquisitive minds. Birds from buzzards and sparrowhawks to woodpeckers, long-tailed tits and more common garden birds are all regularly seen around the grounds or overhead. There is everything you could want to get your children inspired by nature here.

If you are looking to teach your children about habitats, EcoPark is the place to come. For such a small site, it has an amazing array of different habitats, which is why it can support so much wildlife.

It has several fantastic ponds. The largest one was created in 1997 and supports a tremendous range of wildlife, including frogs, toads and newts and even sticklebacks! The pond collects rainwater from the rest of the site, and excess water can be pumped to storage at the top of the site for watering plants or filling the smaller ponds. The pumps are powered by electricity from the wind and solar generators. The smaller ponds are used by schools for pond dipping - there are a number of platforms just above water level to allow this and similar activities to be conducted in safety.

There is a remarkable young woodland, planted on intertwining mounds of soil that were excavated when the ponds were dug. Between the mounds a path winds back and forth, creating the impression of a long walk through mature woodland, despite fitting into a surprisingly small space! The ups and downs of the mounds also create a much wider range of micro-habitats than are found in most planted woodlands, so this is a really good little wood for wildlife. The Growing Local Flora project is helping to add more field layer flora into this woodland, too, so it is becoming more biodiverse all the time.

EcoPark also has a meadow which was created using green hay from a SSSI through the Nature Improvement Area and other areas of grassland, which provide a home to many invertebrates. There is also scrub and even an orchard (yes you CAN pick yourself an apple if you visit in the autumn!) and there are some really wonderful big, old trees all around the site's boundaries.