Little Budworth Country park:34049 - 09/09/2010 11:51 Page 1

there.

alike. visitors and wildlife for benefits

protection and shelter find woodcock over­wintering while

provide which habitats of mix intricate the to contributing

warblers and pipits as such birds for ideal is heathland The

agriculture.

park, the of much cover still will Woodland heathland.

for improved and enclosed was land as dwindled heathland

to restored be will areas further that hoped is it time In

eggs. their laying

the However Mondrum. and Mara of forest hunting ancient

for bilberry of patches use butterflies hairstreak green while

wait. the worth well is results which

the of part formed it Ages Middle the In Common. Budworth

pond the around flit damselflies blue and Red rides. open

heath of carpet rich the but established, become to years

Little as known was and park, country the than area larger

the patrolling or pond the around seen be can Dragonflies

of couple a take seedlings Heather

much a covered heathland time one At

elheather Bell rs evd heath leaved Cross

bank. seed natural the supplement

craneflies. and spiders rare crowberry,

established. become to wildlife unique

to spread is seed heather and

and cranberry to home also are places Boggy diet. their

the enable and heath the maintain

soil, mineral the reveal to off scraped

supplement to flies catch sundews insectivorous and breezes,

to helped have activities these All

is litter leaf removed, are trees

summer early in bob cotton­grass of heads white fluffy The

fuel. for turf and bedding for bracken

Invading lost. been have which areas

mires. and heaths wet in common is moss sphagnum Soggy

cutting animals, grazing for man by

the of some restore to and heathland

used and valued been has heathland

of remnants the protect to worked

sunbathing.

then Since cleared. was woodland

has Council the 1980’s the Since

for patches sandy of advantage take lizards and snakes Grass

the when Age Stone the as ago long

beetles. minotaur of evidence be may volcanoes tiny like

removed.

as created landscape, made man a

holes where ground bare across scurry beetles tiger Green

are trees when heathland for suitable

is heathland character, wild its Despite

still is ground the fertiliser, with

tormentil.

mire. and

‘improved’ been not has soil the as

of yellow the and bedstraw heath of flowers white tiny the

heath wet with filled have ice melting

However remained. pockets isolated

reveals inspection close while places, in thickets dense forms

by formed hollows and vegetation

only until heathland Budworth’s

Gorse ground. wetter indicates heath cross­leaved whereas

heathland hardy for ideal are

Little invaded woodland birch

areas, drier in heather bell of patches are There heathland.

developed that soils poor nutrient The

II War World After heather. the out

the of plant dominant the is heather, common or Ling,

Northwich. and Delamere Budworth, Little between area the

shade and up grow trees as lost be soon can wildlife its and

community wildlife unique a ­ Heathland

in deposited were sands glacial age, ice last the of end the At

heathland burning, or cutting animals, by grazing Without

heathland the of Origins

Restoration Heathland

value. historic its and wildlife

distinctive its for place special this conserve to vital is It reason.

mires. boggy and

ants. on feed they where heathland

this for Interest Scientific Special of Site a is park country

ponds heath, lowland of mosaic a find will you trees the

the on them for out eye an keep and woodpeckers

the of most and in left habitat this of areas largest

amongst and look closer a Take woodland. by dominated

green of cry laughing the for Listen woodland. oak

are Park Country Budworth Little of impressions First the of one is Budworth Little at heathland remnant the Today,

and birch the in found are woodpecker of species three All

Wildlife and History Heathland, ­ Park Country Budworth Little

Welcome to Little Budworth How to find CheshireWest&Council Country Park Little Budworth Country Park Little Budworth n Delamere o Heathlands are an ancient part of our t Forest g

in

2 r landscape, shaped by thousands of years of r

5 a

1 5 W Country Park

man’s stewardship and home to some unique B

9 and very special wildlife. 4 Whitegate A A Chester 54 Way Little Budworth’s heathland is one of the few surviving fragments in Cheshire. This habitat was A54

9 once widespread and what remains provides a 4 B 5 A 1 sense of wildness in the heart of Cheshire. 5 2 Comm With paths through tranquil woodland, winding in Little Budworth Sid and out of heathy glades, Little Budworth Country Country Park Sandy P Park is ideal for gentle walking, horse riding and Cotebrook P y Little e Oulton watching wildlife. rl Oulton o Park Budworth rp Mill a Racing T Picnic There is something to discover in every season. In Circuit Area spring the air is full of birdsong, as the trees burst with leafy green. Summer is the time to enjoy the spectacular aerobatics of dragonflies by the pond For public transport information please contact and perhaps catch a glimpse of a grass snake Cheshire Traveline on 0871 200 22 33. slithering out of sight. Little Budworth Country Park is managed by Cheshire West and Chester Council. The heathland is at its best as autumn unveils a scene of heathery purple. In winter, catch an Whitegate Station unexpected glimpse of yellow gorse flowers or Clay Lane, Marton, Winsford early morning frost glinting on a spider’s web. Cheshire CW7 2QE 01606 301484/85 www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Supported by Cheshire’s Ancient Heathland Little Budworth Country park:34049 - Little Budworth 09/09/2010 11:51 Page 2 Exploring Little Budworth Country Park

n to g in rr Key 9 a 4 W A Woodland

Moss/Wet Heath

y e rl Heathland o r p a Heathland Trail T Heathland Trail Shortcut

Horses & Walkers On Foot Walkers Only 0 200m Follow the Heathland Trail and enjoy a relaxing walk. The 2.7 km/ 0 200yds 1 1/2 mile route is mostly on level ground and takes about an hour, depending on how long you spend watching the wildlife! Follow the C o woodpecker marker posts for this a c Old maps and aerial photos show that Little Budworth route. h R was very different in the past, with much more open o a heathland. This photo was taken in 1947. d There are also plenty of other © Crown copyright 1947. paths to explore, taking you to ad quieter areas of the park. Only Ro ech the main paths are shown on the Be map. Please leave The Gallops N for the horse riders. k roo teb On Horseback Co T Beech Pond h e Moss G a l lo p s

d Pa ks oo Br

The Moor Horse riding is permitted on the paths shown in Whitehall H yellow on the map. Riders can enjoy the sandy e H Moss a Gallops which run for over a mile beside Coach Road. ea th t l h l a Please take great care as walkers share the same an n d d T tracks. r a T i l r a

i l Beyond the Country Park

Explore the public rights of way leading from Little Budworth S m

Country Park into the wider countryside. These are clearly shown it h on the Ordnance Survey Explorer map 267 ‘ and y Budworth L ’. Public footpaths are for walkers only, while other a e Heath n n rights of way can be used by horseriders and cyclists as well. e a L th P WC a A short walk leads to the village of Little Budworth where refreshments e

are available at the village pubs. H

Nearby is the Whitegate Way. This is a 10 km/6 mile route for walkers, Little cyclists and horseriders along the old railway line from Winsford to Racing Circuit Budworth Cuddington. A leaflet is available from Whitegate Station, details Oulton Village overleaf. Mill Rushton