Wildlife

Each area of the country park has its own unique habitat and therefore a diverse array of wildlife within it.  The cattle grazed grassland of Wyndham Hill and Summerhouse Hill provides a variable sward structure benefiting a host of species in the summer including meadow brown, marbled white and emperor dragonflies. The wildflower meadows at Ninesprings, Penn Hill and Summerhouse Hill provide nectar-rich plants helping to support populations of native pollinators including small copper butterflies, six spot burnet moths and common carder bees. Vascular plants include common knapweed, field scabious, birds foot trefoil, yellow rattle, marsh orchid, common orchid and many countless other plants occupying specific niches throughout the country park. 

You can walk through the reedbed at Riverside and may occasionally hear a cetti’s or reed warbler singing. The rough grassland is home to wasp spiders, harvest mice and provides a hunting habitat for barn owl and tawny owl. The small wildlife ponds provide great habitat for banded demoiselles, broad bodied chasers and emperor dragonflies.

Kingfishers can be seen darting above the waterways at Ninesprings and following the path of the River Yeo where the soft sandy riverbanks provide an ideal nesting location. Around the lake and ponds at Ninesprings mallard duck, mandarin duck, coot, moorhen and little grebe are resident throughout the year and the banks of Dodham Brook support a large population of water voles. 

In the woodland, birds are plentiful, and you will spot or hear the woodland specialists such as nuthatch, jay, treecreeper, green woodpecker, firecrest and great spotted woodpecker. Look out for dancing speckled wood butterflies along the paths. 

Mammals such as the red fox and badger inhabit the woodlands and field margins throughout the Country Park. If you are lucky you may spot a roe deer whilst taking a stroll through the woodland at Riverside. Otters inhabit the River Yeo and can occasionally be seen feeding in the water on a quiet morning, look out for their spraints left on prominent points around rocks.

Lower plants and liverworts are present on the man-made water features throughout the valley gardens at nine springs, 12 species of liverwort. A full array of Fungi and some ferns can be seen.