Habitat Survey 2017
If you’ve ever wondered how many plant species there are in Trent Country Park, wonder no more!
The Habitat Survey commissioned by the Friends is now complete and we finally have an updated and comprehensive view of nature’s treasures in the park.
This will facilitate a maintenance plan to protect and enhance the park’s varied habitats. (The answer, by the way, is at least 281! That number was observed and listed but there are probably many more than that.)
Why did we do it? Unfortunately Local Authority funds for parks are constantly being squeezed and the Friends had become concerned about habitat degradation and species loss.
Enfield is now without a biodiversity officer and no surveys had been done for some years, so we decided to step in. The new survey confirms that Trent Country Park is a very special place, not only for the thousands of visitors who use it every year, but also for the flora and fauna that live there.
The entire report is available to view or download via the link below:
Habitat Survey of Trent Country Park 2017
The first part is quite technical so you might want to jump to the Conclusions and Recommendations on page 54. Here are some highlights:
- Trent Country Park is home to about 70 hectares (ha) of ancient woodland and about 24 ha of acid grassland. Both of these are ‘habitats of principle importance’ in England and are irreplaceable in the short-term. They tend to support species that are rare elsewhere and need appropriate management.
- Trent Country Park is home to a number of uncommon species, including black poplar, mistletoe and orchids.
- Trent Country Park includes at least 9 different types of habitat, which support a relatively rich variety of plants and animals.
- Trent Country Park is an important reservoir and hub for wildlife and forms part of a wildlife corridor that spans the Hertfordshire countryside almost into Enfield Town.
Armed with all this information, the Friends will now try to raise more funds for educational programmes, improvements and maintenance and we will work with LBE (London Borough of Enfield) to preserve and enhance the park for the multitude of species that call it home and for the human visitors who come to enjoy this special place.
Please join the Friends and help our efforts!!
Nature in Trent Park
Learn about Trent Park’s rich biodiversity!
You can now identify and understand more about the park’s flora and fauna, thanks to four illustrated boards that have been installed.
Funded by two Enfield Residents’ Priority Fund grants secured by the Friends of Trent Country Park, the interpretation boards highlight four areas of biodiversity:
- Trees – Located as you enter the Nature Trail.
- Birds and Bats – Located at the top of the path leading to the lakes, opposite the Wildlife Centre.
- Woodland Habitat – located in the Hadley Road car park.
- Meadowland Habitat – located just off Limes Avenue, near the main café.
You can view and download the board graphics below:
Woodland Habitat of Trent Country Park
Meadow Habitat of Trent Country Park
Birds and Bats of Trent Country Park
You could print them to use them as spotter sheets on your next visit to Trent Park.
Do report back what you see and hear and where and when it happened. The Friends hope to bring you more nature-related resources and activities in the future and records about Trent Park’s biodiversity are important for our planning.
Our email address is info@friendsoftrentcountrypark.org.uk
Useful links
Plantlife is the organisation that is speaking up for our wild flowers, plants and fungi. Visit the Plantlife website to download some spotter sheets and explore Trent Park’s plentiful plants.
Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity and the leading voice for woods and trees. Visit the Woodland Trust website to download free outdoor activity sheets for children of all ages then have fun in Trent Park’s woods and fields.
Trent Park is home to a wide variety of trees. This Woodland Trust tree guide can help you to identify them.
