Wildlife in the Park

The ecological importance of Beacon Hill has been recognised in the designation of much of the Country Park as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by English Nature.

Water Features

The pond lies on the edge of the northern track and supports numerous clumps of Flote Grass - and you may see the small round leaves of the Marsh Pennywort by its edges.
You may be lucky enough, in the Spring and early Summer, to see the rare Palmate Newts with their whip-ended tails, as they rise to the surface. We are very fortunate to have one of the few breeding sites of this rare creature in Leicestershire.

The pond lies in the woods at the eastern end of the park, has many Common Newts and Great Crested Newts.
It is also a breeding place for many varieties of dragonfly. You may be able to see the fearsome looking dragonfly nymphs before they leave the water and change into the dazzling adult dragonflies that dart about the park, hunting insects on the wing.
The impressive Emperor Dragonflies are the largest that can be seen in the summer.
Frank's Pit is fringed with several varieties of fern and has a clump of the unusual Sphagnum Moss. Close by are groups of Marsh Violet and Lesser Skullcap, both scarce in Leicestershire.

Both ponds also support a host of insects such as Diving Beetles, Pond Skaters and Water Boatmen.
To preserve the water quality and its inhabitants, the ponds are fenced to prevent dogs paddling and disturbing the bottom.

Among the many birds at the park are the Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting, which are commonly seen, and the dipping flight of the Green Woodpecker with its cackling call is another unmistakable resident.
Throughout the park there are more than 100 bird boxes. Teams of volunteer specialists carefully record the nesting inhabitants.

As day draws to a close and the visitors leave, the night-time inhabitants begin to make an appearance. On one of our
Night-Time Guided Walks, you might hear the eerie cry of a fox, the screech of a Tawny Owl or see the fluttering flight of one of the five types of bats that live in or around the park and hunt for insects over the ponds and woodlands.
When the visitors have gone, badgers come out to root for grubs and worms alongside the woodland edges.