Our Wildlife

Old Park Wood’s landscape is rich with botanical treasures. 5 kilometres of pathways and trails with woodland floors awash with bluebells, wild garlic and foxgloves in spring, and carpets of ferns and violets beneath the canopy. Along limestone-edged grasslands and cliff-tops (part of Barker Scar SSSI), you’ll find herb-rich groundcover — including wild thyme, burnet saxifrage, salad burnet and green-winged orchids — and in summer the sight of rare orchids dotting the meadows is a sure delight.

The mix of estuary and woodland attracts remarkable birdlife. Elegant egrets stalk the shoreline, while curlews call across the sands. Flocks of pink-footed geese arrive in winter, eiders gather in summer, and ospreys wheel dramatically overhead. Together they make Old Park Wood a year-round haven for birdwatchers of every level.

Encounters with wildlife are part of daily life here. Roe deer graze quietly at the woodland edge, badgers emerge after dark, and brown hares sometimes bound across our spacious green areas. These regular sightings reflect the park’s philosophy – people and wildlife living side by side, in harmony and mutual respect. 

Old Park Wood incorporates a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, protecting rare habitats and species on the park itself. In summer, butterflies flourish — from speckled woods to silver-washed fritillaries — a visible sign of thriving biodiversity. It’s a reminder of the responsibility and privilege of living within such an important environment.

For those with a love of seasonal flavours, the park’s woodlands and hedgerows provide a natural pantry. Wild garlic, elderflower, berries and mushrooms appear in abundance throughout the year. Responsible foraging here offers a deeper connection to the land, turning each walk into an opportunity to discover nature’s larder.