Wildlife at Oakdown
The wildlife here is not an attraction we installed. It arrived because the habitat did, then stayed.
The Victorian reed bed went in during 1995 to filter the park’s greywater naturally — sinks, showers plus washing, passed through pea gravel by wetland plants with no chemicals involved. What nobody expected was how much wildlife would follow it. The bird hide came afterwards, once it was obvious there was something to watch.
Our family has farmed this land across two generations. That is why there is an environmental planting plan protecting what already grows here, encouraging new species to establish then replacing anything damaged.
Seen on the park
We run trail cameras along the northern boundary. Over the years they have picked up:
- Deer
- Badgers
- Owls
- Goldfinches
- Pheasants
- Partridges
- Skylarks nesting
“Gold — congratulations, you are doing a wonderful job. Your visitors love your park, especially the pond with bird hide. Well done!”
Professor David Bellamy
Wildlife nearby
Seaton Wetlands
Reedbeds, lagoons plus bird hides seven miles away, with guided walks through the year. October brings the migrating birds through.
The Donkey Sanctuary
Free to enter, open all day, fifteen minutes on foot from our gate along the field trail.
The Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs
A National Nature Reserve where sandstone plus chalk have slipped over clay, leaving one of the great wilderness areas of southern England.
Come and look
A five star park where the reed bed came first plus the wildlife followed.