Wildlife at Attingham

Wood and water

Take a walk through some of our 370 acres of glorious woodland. The park abounds with trees that have seen the centuries come and go, including our magnificent 650 year old Repton Oak on the Deer Park walk.

The old and veteran trees on the estate are the perfect habitat for saproxylic insects - important for the woodland eco-system, and more commonly known as deadwood invertebrates. They thrive at Attingham, and part of the estate has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of this.

Attingham is host to around five miles of river, featuring beautiful stretches of the Severn and Tern. Our many ponds are a haven for wildlife, from ducks, swans and otters to dragonflies.

Creating homes

The estate has many miles of hedges, but far less than it would have had 50 years ago. To help put back what we have lost, our dedicated team of staff and volunteers plant or lay about a mile of new hedge each year. Hedges are important for wildlife. Over 100 wildlife species are known to be significantly associated with hedges, from lichens, birds, insects, mammals, and amphibians. Hedgerows act as wildlife corridors, connecting different habitats to each other while providing safety and a home for some species.

Find out more about the traditional type of hedgelaying we do, and why, in our Ranger Blog Post - 'Hedging your bets'.

Wildlife and nature to look out for on your visit

Depending on the season look and listen out for the below:

•     Birds: the barn owl, raven and buzzard are the top predators here.
•     Birds: green and great spotted woodpeckers (in the woods during early summer - May usually).
•     Fungi: from giant puffballs to tiny waxcaps, we have lots of fungi in the woodlands, best spotted in autumn. Click don't pick - they make a great photo, but please don't touch as they can be poisonous.  

•     Bats: around 10 species of bat, including over 1,000 pipistrelle bats. Seen at dawn and dusk, (if you come across a bat on your visit and are worried about it, please don't touch it, report it at Visitor Reception).
•     Deer: there are around 180 fallow deer in the Deer Park - head into the Deer Park and around the World War II Walk for the best chance to see them.
•     Trees: some of the tallest and straightest oaks in the country. including the Repton Oak.

•     Dead wood: trees and branches are perfect homes for insects, including deadwood invertebrates.

•     Cattle: pedigree Jerseys and Longhorn cattle graze the front parkland

The Attingham deer herd