Where to watch wildlife in Northamptonshire

Ordnance Survey - map details of Villages and Sites referred to at this site Wildlife Sites- Photographs of places of wildlife interest in Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough Wildlife Diary - Highlights of the wildlife year around Northamptonshire

Country Parks Barnwell Country Park - Grid ref: TL (Landranger 141) Brigstock Country Park - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Landscape: Former Sand Quarry. Spoil heaps and diggings make for an undulating landscape. It is adjacent to Fermyn Wood. Habitats: Grassland and dense scrub through management has a wide variety of habitats including ditches, streams and ponds. Birds: Nightingale (in Fermyn Wood), Turtle Dove, Hawfinch (in winter numbers are very variable) Dragonflies: A good site to look for dragonflies, Emperor Dragonfly, Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Hairy Dragonfly (possibility at this site) Butterflies: A good site to look for butterflies, 20+, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Brown Argus Flowers: Common Spotted Orchid, Bee Orchid Fungi: St Georges Mushroom Directions: On A6116 between Corby and Thrapston. A sign-posted turning off of the Brigstock bypass Access: Public Parking: Car park Facilities: Information centre and childrens play area Brixworth Country Park - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Daventry Country Park - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Irchester Country Park - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Landscape: Former Ironstone Quarry. An unusual ridge and furrow effect left by the quarry workings leaves a distinctive area of woodland. Habitats: A large area of predominantly coniferous woodland and a variety of other habitats including grassland and scrub. Fungi: A good range of damp habitats and a good site. Look for Larch Bolete, False Chanterelle, Agaricus bernardii and a selection of waxcaps Directions: The entrance is on the B570 between Little Irchester and Irchester Access: Public Parking: Car park unfortunately Pay and Display Facilities: Information Centre and childrens play area Sywell Country Park - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Woodland Sites Badby Wood - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Fermyn Wood - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Fineshade Top Lodge / Fineshade Wood - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Public access from the car park signposted from the A43 between Corby and Stamford, 2 miles south of Duddington. Glapthorn Cow Pasture - Grid ref: TL (Landranger 141) Harlestone Firs - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Hazelborough Forest - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Lings Wood - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Salcey Forest - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Short Wood - Grid ref: TL (Landranger 141) Southwick Wood - Grid ref: TL (Landranger 141) Wakerley Great Wood\Wakerley Wood - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Wetland Sites Hollowell Reservoir - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Pitsford Reservoir - Grid ref: (Landranger 141) Public access to the south-west of the causeway. Permit access to the reserve to the north-east of the causeway - permits from the fishermans Lodge at SE end of the causeway. Ravensthorpe Reservoir - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 141) Summerleys Local Nature Reserve - Grid ref: SP (Landranger 152) Public access from the car park on the Great Doddington to Wollaston road. Thrapston Gravel Pits\Titchmarsh Nature Reserve - Grid ref: TL (Landranger 141) Other Sites Collyweston Delphs\Collyweston Quarries - Grid ref: (Landranger 152) Landscape: Former Slate and Limestone Quarry. Spoil heaps and diggings make for an undulating landscape. It is on the top of the slope that is the SE side of the Welland Valley. Habitats: Unimproved limestone grassland with some scrubby areas. Managed by the NWT and is a SSSI. Plants: A good site to look for flowers, 200+ including limestone specialists, Orchids, Dyers Greenwood in June\July, Autumn Gentian, Knapweed Broomrape Butterflies: 20+, Brown Argus and Chalkhill Blue Fungi: St Georges Mushroom Direction: On A43 south of Stamford Access: Public Parking: In lay-by on the opposite side of A43 Facilities: Information board