Watching Wildlife

The Crake Pool Hide offers a unique experience for birdwatchers

All of the Country Park is managed with wildlife in mind.
Guided Walks are organised around the park looking at its natural history and development.
Conservation Days are also held when volunteers can help with practical tasks.
Leaflets are available giving details, or see the 'What's On' boards in the car parks.

Interesting things to watch out for:

The Common Blue Damselfly can be seen at Watermead

Insects

There are many different insects to be found, perhaps the most spectacular being the large dragonflies and smaller brightly coloured damselflies flitting over the lakes in July and August.

Animals

Several small animals inhabit the country park - voles, mice, bats and maybe even a fox might be seen.

Fish

The concentric circles of fish surfacing on the lakes can frequently be seen. roach, tench, perch, carp and pike are some of the species which are to be found.

A Tern is ringed to study migration patterns

Frogs and toads

In spring, frogs and toads can be seen and their spawn found in ponds, ditches and lake margins. It is occasionally possible to spot a newt.

Birds

More than 175 species of bird have been recorded, including the resident Tufted Duck, Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel and Kingfisher. In the winter watch out for the Shoveler, Teal and Gldeneye ducks and in the summer see swifts skim across the water or the Common Tern waiting to dive for fish.