Wildlife, habitat and conservation
Our Park is rich with wildlife and flora and fauna, look out for tawny owls, bank voles and kingfishers on the lakes
Lakeside Country Park was historically a gravel pit. Since its reclamation it has become a valued area for wildlife. It now contains an array of habitats including lakes, a wetland area and semi-improved grassland with woodland margins. This site provides a haven for flowers, butterflies and waterfowl alike.
Our Park also has a comprehensive management plan and cattle form a key part of managing its habitat. Since Spring 2010, cattle have been grazing within specially fenced zones.
Many different species of flora and fauna can be found at Lakeside Country Park. To name but a few; look out for bee orchids, grass snakes, frogs and toads, bank vole, common shrew, harvest mice, kingfishers, tawny owls, fox and roe deer. There are also a regular breeding pair of great crested grebes at the lakes.
With a relatively large population of slow worms, several areas of the Park have been set aside to include reptile & amphibian hibernacula, some of which have been built with the help and hard work of our volunteers. Bats also use the site as feeding grounds and roost. To date, we have observed seven species of bat; among them the rare migrant nathusius pipistrelle. Some of the commoner species have been recorded whilst swarming over the lakes:
- Noctule Bat (Listen to MP3)
- Pipistrelle Bat (Listen to MP3)
- Daubenton’s Bat (Listen to MP3)
