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Wildlife in Gedling Country Park

Within Gedling Country Park, there are wildlife areas, grassland, woodland and three lagoons, scrapes, proposed landscaping areas and planted trees. The park has the potential to become a wildlife nucleus within Nottinghamshire and to provide an environment to preserve native species for the enjoyment of future generations.

As part of the overall development and future management of the park, in June 2014 Gedling Borough Council commissioned a specialist ecological report of the site with an objective of collecting information regarding the habitats and the flora and fauna of the site.   Since the pit closure in 1991 the area has been relatively untouched, the public were prohibited from entering the site, allowing nature to take over. This has resulted in the site having an extremely wide diversity of habitats and wildlife. 

The report found the majority of the grasslands to be species-rich supporting notable flora, including a number of orchid species.  The grassland also provides a breeding habitat for two Red Listed (extremely endangered) species, the Skylark and the Lapwing (Peewit/Green Plover) and it is important that they are protected. These two birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult bird, or to take, damage or destroy an active nest or its contents.  The Council and the Friends together take this responsibility very seriously.  We are aware that dogs are exercised off lead and many have been seen to run around the grassland areas creating a disturbance to the nests. As such, fencing has been installed around selected areas of the park to keep dogs away from these ground nesting birds.

Working together, the Friends of Gedling Country Park and Gedling Borough Council have formulated a conservation plan to both preserve and enhance the natural environment of the park. Already, nesting boxes have been installed for both owls and kestrels, and some of the orchids on site have been re-located due to access roads.

A butterfly walk has been created - please see our Butterfly Walk page for more information.

Future plans include surveys of birds, insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as plant life within the site. We also plan to enlarge the top pond to provide a more suitable environment for wetland birds, mammals, amphibians and insects. In addition, we intend to improve the scrapes on the top of the site. The grassland areas will require monitoring to prevent the ingress of scrub and non-native species as well as improvement for the wildflowers present. A butterfly and wildlife walk is envisaged for 2015. Moth trapping evenings are planned during the year and limited numbers of 'Friends' will be welcome.

All these plans will require volunteers and all are welcome - even a single record of what you have seen is important. No previous knowledge or skills are required and children are welcome (if overseen by a parent/guardian) - click here to find out how to record wildlife within the park.

Join the Friends of Gedling Country Park and you will meet new like-minded friends and play a vital role in nature conservation locally, as well as gaining hands on experience. Remember no wildlife knowledge is required just enthusiasm and commitment. Help will also be required with recording, computer skills, design of guides etc.