Wildlife at Burrough Hill

The hill top Calcareous grasslands is an important habitat that has developed on shallow, free-draining, lime-rich soils where artificial fertilizers have never been used. Plants include wild thyme, harebell, lady's bedstraw, salad burnet and musk thistle.

In autumn, important species of fungi can be found, including: pink waxcap and scarlet waxcap. Several scarce fungi that grow on sheep and rabbit dung are also present.

The ground on the lower slopes is clayey and sometimes waterlogged. Plants include elder and gorse thickets. Elder is a fast growing shrub that bears berries in September and October which are a great source of food for birds and small mammals. Gorse has sharp spines to protect against grazing, and has coconut-scented yellow flowers which bloom throughout the year, particularly March to June.

An open canopy including trees such as sycamore and ash, larch and scots pine. Bluebells and rosebay willow are also abundant.

Many of the birds seen at Burrough Hill are on the 'Red Data' list of high conservation concern.

Tree sparrow nest boxes and bird feeders have been distributed around the car park and have boosted numbers greatly.

Skylarks, linnets, yellowhammers, willow warblers, great spotted and green woodpeckers, and kestrels are often seen around the site. Occasionally red kites can be spotted around the hill.

Hares and muntjac deer can be seen in open grassland and fields surrounding the Country Park.