Plants and Animals
Plants, Animals and the Ecology of the Park
Platt Fields has a great diversity of landscapes, plants and wildlife and we are slowly developing our knowledge of these, and how they may flourish alongside the human activities which take place within the park.With this in mind, in 2008 the Friends commissioned a full BIODIVERSITY STUDY of the park in 2008. This lists the complete range of species of plants and animals which are found within Platt Fields, and proposes ways to increase their habitat, and numbers, wherever possible.
Download our Biodiversity Study (in PDF format):
The 'study' will also be used as a guide for the future development and improvement of the park, and as such we hope to encourage a greater number of species to make Platt Fields their home over the forthcoming years. This may require some difficult decisions, however, as obtaining the correct balance of species may not be an easy thing to achieve, and we may need to make decisions about the park which may appeal to some, and yet not to others. Whenever such decisions need to be made the Friends promise to listen to the views of Park Users, and to discuss any planned proposals fully with the public - at one of our regular 'Open Meetings'.
The Friends produce regular 'Wildlife Reports' in our bi-monthly NEWSLETTERS. Copies of the some recent 'Wildlife Reports' can be read by clicking on the links above.
The following sections about the park's wildlife are being continuously updated as people provide us with us new information about the animals and birds they have seen. We intend to set up a Bird Watching Group and so if you are interested in joining this then please e-mail vblunden@care4free.net and provide your contact details so we can get back to you regarding this group.
THE DIFFERENT ECOLOGY AREAS OF THE PARK:
The Lake
The lake is one of the major areas for wildlife within the park and it supports a great diversity of waterfowl throughout the year.Recently we have experienced problems with harmful Blue-Green Algae and so we would ask people to feed the birds responsibly, and to feed wild bird pellets (available free, at the Lakeside Centre) rather than bread, which has little nutritional value and can cause environmental problems.
Mute Swans breed on the lake, as do Domestic Geese, Canada Geese, Mallards, Coots and Moorhens. Tufted Ducks can often be seen on the lake, as can our resident rarity, 'Isis' a beautiful Egyptian Goose. In Winter over 100 Black Headed Gulls make the lake their home, as do many Cormorant - which eat our fish stocks (currently large Carp & the smaller Mirror Carp).
The Lake is the home of the Platt Fields Angling Club who have the sole fishing rights to the lake. So if you want to fish on the lake you need to become a member. The club will be constructing 'predator cages' to go in the lake, so the fish can escape from the Herons and Cormorants, before they restock the lake with a greater range of fish, probably next year.
If you want to know more about the Platt Fields Angling Club then click here.
The Island
Our resident Herons have now breed on the island for the past two years - and so it is now protected as a nature reserve, and people are not allowed to go on the island. Canada Geese also breed on the island and their large numbers (far too many for the lake to support) are a source of concern to the Friends. Many of our other birds also nest on the Island and recently Ring Necked Parakeets (from nearby Birchfields Park) are also visiting the Island with a view to extending their range and settling in Platt Fields Park.The trees on the island are now nearing the end of their natural life and many are now falling into the waters around the edge of the lake. Hopefully our Biodiversity Survey will suggest a suitable replanting regime. Do remember that the Island is a 'protected breeding area'and so please allow the birds some peace, and do not attempt to visit the island yourself.
The Ditch
Not the Nico Ditch (an ancient monument), but the drainage ditch which runs parallel to the 'Back Path' near the back of the BMX Track. This is an area the Friends are keen to develop as a haven for wildlife and we will be working to develop it over the next 12 months. The ditch will be dug out to improve its drainage capacity in the near future, which should resolve the problems of water collecting on the adjacent 'Back Path' during the Winter monthsThe 'Back Path'
This path runs from the Park entrance at Mabfield Road to the junction with the Hart Road path, and so it encircles a large part of the Southern boundary of the park parallel to Wilbraham Road and Hart Rd.It is a favourite with Dog Walkers, (to join our Dog Walking Group e-mail
) although in the Winter months it can become rather muddy. The trees along its route also provide an excellent opportunity for bird watching and Green Finches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinches and Bullfinches have all been seen along this path. One of our plans for the future is to increase the number and variety of trees along the path to convert it into 'a Woodland Walk' and thereby increase its potential for wildlife and as a nesting site for birds.
Platt Brook Woodlands
Although Platt Brook itself is a bricked water course with little wildlife value the wooded areas on either side of the Brook are home to a great diversity of wildlife. Woodpigeons nest in the area, and Grey Squirrels are often seen here. As the trees are quite old it is in this area that a Great Spotted Woodpecker has been seen, and heard, on many occasions.Many of our beautiful Black Poplar Trees were recently cut down in this area as a result of a major felling by the Council, and so a replanting scheme needs to be drawn up to replace them. It is hoped our Biodiversity Survey will assist in this aim.
As the area is rough underfoot and leads to the open watercourse of Platt Brook for safety reasons people are not currently encouraged to walk in this area, although the Spaceshapers survey and Biodiversity Survey may result in plans being drawn up to change this in the future.