Exploring the estate at Calke Abbey

Wildlife to spot on the estate

With over 600 acres of countryside, Calke Abbey is home to lots of wildlife that you can see all year round. Here are some highlights to look out for, many of which you’ll see in all seasons.

Lambing and livestock

Calke Abbey is home to a flock of rare-breed Portland sheep, as well as lots of livestock that you can see roaming around the estate in spring and summer.

In spring, visit the Walled Kitchen Garden to see the Portland lambs bouncing around in the long grass. This rare breed has lived on the estate since 1770, and if it weren’t for Calke’s flock, they might have become extinct. You can identify them by their tan-coloured faces.

In the rest of the estate, you’ll find more sheep owned and cared for by local farmers, and the long-horn cattle who roam the estate through the spring and summer.

Sadly, we’ve seen an increase in dogs worrying the sheep, which has resulted in livestock injuries and fatalities. Even the friendliest dogs can be unpredictable, so please keep them on leads at all times around livestock. Thank you.

Visit the Deer Park

A National Nature Reserve in itself, Calke’s 67-acre Deer Park is home to a herd of red and fallow deer. Red deer have distinctive red coats, while fallows are often speckled with white spots.

During May and June, the fallow fawns and red calves are born. You might spot them hiding among the bracken until they’re brave enough to explore.

Autumn sees the rise of rutting season, a time to witness spectacular behaviour among the stags, who can be seen sizing up their opponents and wallowing in mud baths. Listen out for bellowing roars and grunts, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot clashing antlers as the stags fight for dominance.

Bird, butterflies and bees

With acres of woodlands, wetlands and open countryside, Calke is the perfect spot for a bit of birdwatching. There are two bird hides where you can watch birds at the feeders – you’ll find one at Calke Explore, and another in the main car park (next to the Deer Park).

Summer is the perfect time to look out for other winged creatures, such as bees, butterflies and beetles. The wildflower meadows and Pleasure Grounds are a great place to spot them, as well at the waterside at Calke Explore. You’ll also find a giant bug hotel there too.

Ancient trees and woodland

A third of the historic Calke Abbey Estate is recognised as a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. This ancient wood pasture and its historic avenues are home to over 650 veteran trees, more than half of which are considered ancient.

The ‘Old Man of Calke’ is perhaps the most well-known ancient veteran tree. At an estimated 1,200 years old, he certainly earns his title. Follow the pink waymarked walk from the main car park to visit the Old Man.

Many of the trees in the park are thought to be over 400 years old, which means they'd have been over 100 years old during Shakespeare's time. These ancient trees are a mix of species, such as limes, field maples, ash, beech and chestnuts, as well as oak.

Deadwood is good wood

While exploring the parkland, you might notice branches that have fallen and been left on the ground, as well as entire fallen trees. This deadwood provides a valuable habitat and Calke’s parkland is one of Britain's best sites for deadwood invertebrates. Calke is home to over 200 types of beetle that rely on deadwood – such as the wasp beetle, which mimics wasps to avoid predation.

These trees are made for walking

Have you ever heard of a walking tree? There are several trees walking their way across the landscape at Calke Abbey.

You can spot walking trees where their branches have bowed low to the ground and taken root, forming a new tree from the old. As the old tree dies, the new trees continue to grow, slowly (very slowly) moving their way across the land.