How the Park is managed and how you can help: WHAT IS BELSTEAD BROOK PARK? The Greenways Project manages Belstead Brook Park on Belstead Brook Park (BBP) was set up in 1992 as a behalf of Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council BELSTEAD partnership between Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County and Babergh District Council. The Project works very closely Council and Babergh District Council. A BBP Masterplan with the Friends of BBP (see below), Pinewood Parish Council was adopted that agreed the layout of the Park and guided and local people. Much of the management work in the Park BROOK work for the first ten years or so. The Park is effectively an is carried out by volunteers who assist with a very wide range informal country park, extending to about 250 acres – offering of tasks including mowing meadows, building bridges, cutting opportunities for people to explore well managed countryside paths, coppicing woodland, picking litter, planting hedges and right on the edge of town. The Park includes areas of ancient surveying wildlife. PARK woodland, wet woodland, ponds, meadows, reedbeds, hedges, farmed land and the Brook itself. If you would like to get involved in helping to look after the Wildlife Park, please contact the Greenways Project on 01473 Local countryside The Park is perfect for leisurely strolls; enjoying beautiful 433995 or email [email protected] scenery and fresh air; walking the dog; running; cycling; The different habitats within the Park support a very wide range for local people watching wildlife; photography; and includes areas for formal of wildlife, much of which can be seen and enjoyed as you walk More information about our work can be found on our sport, children’s play and other activities. around. Much more can be appreciated by stopping to watch website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/greenways from our viewing tower and hide, or resting on a seat by the Why is it important? Brook to see a kingfisher flash past, for example. To understand The Friends of Belstead Brook Park The Park is a vitally important area for wildlife and for local more about the Park’s wildlife, there are a range of events from The Friends group was established in 2002 to help with people to enjoy. In a relatively small area there are a vast range guided walks and educational activities to surveys and practical looking after the Park. The group’s volunteers help with of habitats and rare and protected species including dormice, sessions to allow local people to become more involved and practical management work, events, fundraising, and act as otters, bats, water voles, reptiles, kingfishers and bluebells. appreciate the natural environment on our doorsteps. ‘eyes and ears’ to report any issues back to the Greenways Project. Local The Park is very easily reached on foot by thousands of local Membership of the group is free – members receive mailings residents without the need to travel great distances, and about the Park and the Group’s activities, and can help as provides very high quality countryside. The Park acts as a little or as much as they like. ‘gateway to the wider countryside’ – encouraging local people To become a member of the Friends group, please visit their to explore further afield via public footpaths and bridleways. website: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/fobbp or contact the Health Greenways Project. The Park offers space for people to get away from their busy Ipswich Wildlife Group (IWG) lives and to enjoy beautiful surroundings, fresh air, exercise IWG is a well established local group that seeks to promote and tranquillity – with all the benefits to physical and mental interest in, and conservation of, wildlife and habitats in health that can come from this. and around Ipswich. The Group has been involved in the management of Spring Wood, at the heart of BBP, for at least 20 years. The Group’s volunteers have regular work parties to coppice the woodland, producing a ‘crop’ of beanpoles and peasticks for local gardeners. More information about IWG can be found at: www.greenlivingcentre.org.uk/iwg BELSTEAD BROOK PARK Belstead Meadows – a large Ellenbrook open space and Bobbits Lane Meadows LNr – area of cattle-grazed meadows with former playing fi eld – these a vitally important wet meadow all-weather paths and traditional two areas (either side of Ellenbrook system supporting: one of england’s parkland landscape features, Road) offer a range of opportunities: largest recorded colonies of Devlin offering circular walks and access brook-side paths, play area, mini common toad; water voles; otters; Rd to the Brook. skate park, wildlife rich areas and and a wide range of birds that m links to other parts of the Park. enjoy the ponds and scrapes. A a d Sprites h R Lane g n viewing tower and hide allow good i t t Common Toad o opportunities to look over the ponds. C Ellenbrook Belstead Rd A14/A12 House Copdock Oak Corporation Avenue Interchange Belstead Ave. Belstead Stoke Park Brook Rd Round Wood Local Grove Walk Hotel Nature Reserve Plantation Quilter Drive To Bourne Bridge & Lower S Wherstead ll Ellenbrook Rd Grove Walk i to Meadows H k Stoke Park Drive Road e e Reedbeds v P o a Open Space r r G k Alderlee D ri A14 Tree ve Ostrich Tunnel M Ashground WhitlandClose Belt ar Meadows ble Plantation To A14 d W hit Belstead e Dr Bobbits North Kiln Lane Meadow Burnet Meadow – a beautiful wildfl ower meadow supporting large To Belstead A14 Bourne Hill Native brown trout can numbers of butterfl ies and moths be seen in Belstead and many other insects. The site has Anglian Water Braky Wood A137 Brook – particularly a very impressive children’s play area Depot (private) Spring Wood Local Nature under the bridges and outdoor exercise equipment for all. Reserve (LNr) – a delightful Ancient Woodland, with magnifi cent Bourne Park – a large open park KEY: wildfl owers in the spring. with play area, paddling pool, and Car Park No safe Allotments Sedge Warbler sports pitches, along with important crossing wildlife areas including the reed beds of A14 Housing Millennium Wood LNr – partly (thought to be the largest area of Pedestrians only planted by local people, but mostly reed bed in south Suffolk). The reed naturally regenerated from local To bed area is a Local Nature Reserve Wherstead Pedestrians/Cyclists seed – this young wood already feels due to the importance of reed bed habitat for a wide range of birds and Map not to scale. Belstead Brook Park is approximately 2¼ miles from end to like an established woodland and end. Bourne Park to Spring Wood is approximately ¾ mile and Belstead House supports a wealth of wildlife. To Wherstead other species. to Ellenbrook road is ½ mile – as two examples. Fingerposts throughout the & Belstead A14 Park give detailed destination and distance information. Map and paths shown are indicative only and cannot be taken to demonstrate a right..