The Greensand Trust manages this area which was opened to the public in 1972. It comprises 80 acres of the Stockgrove Estate which has an interesting history dating back to medieval times. It has a variety or habitats including a lake, ancient woodland conifer plantations, meadows and heath. The lake is noted for its colourful Mandarin ducks; on the meadows green woodpeckers may be seen feeding on ants among the wildflowers and grasses. Bakers Wood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its semi-natural Ancient Woodland. The rest of the site has County Wildlife Site status. The geology and landforms of the Park also have significance with the site registered as a Regionally Important Site with a leaflet available on the ice age landforms. More information is available on all these aspects.
What you can see changes with the seasons.
In spring – bluebells, lily of the valley & other woodland flowers, warblers, butterflies, common lizards;
summer – heather, butterflies (purple hairstreak, white admiral);
autumn – woodland colours, fungi and in winter – migrant birds, eg crossbills, Mandarins in mating plumage.
