Wildlife in Hampton
I'm glad you are finding my website interesting. If you're after a specific photo or piece of information then you may find the search facility useful. And don't forget you can purchase photos online.
Hide this message
Hide this message
Hampton holds two European records
Europe’s largest private development is not the first place you would think of when planning an autumnal stroll to commune with nature. However, Hampton packs a surprising number of rare and renowned plants and animals into its surrounding countryside according to Dan Waters, a local wildlife photographer.
Hampton reserve is famous for having Europe’s largest population of great crested newts. They live in the hundreds of ponds created by the abandoned pits of an old clay factory that once excavated the site. However, you will find there are many other treasures if you take a quiet walk round, particularly in the early evening or morning.
GETTING STARTED
The best place to start is at the entrance to Hampton Vale on the A15. On the left as soon as you turn into Eagle Way you will see two large stones flanking a path that runs across a piece of wasteland. Follow this path as it turns round to the right alongside the A15. 100 yards on the left you’ll see a sign for the Green Wheel and it’s time to keep your eyes open.
MUNTJAC DEER
As you start your walk you have a good chance of seeing muntjac tiptoe through the small scrub field on the left, particularly as the undergrowth is beginning to thin out at this time of year. Even if you don’t see one you may hear their eerie barking that can make your spine tingle. If you turn right and head down the small path between the brambles you can enjoy a secluded piece of woodland. Here the greater spotted and ‘laughing’ green woodpeckers join the deer and the sun sets through the trees and over the lake ahead.
WILDFOWL
Carrying along round the Green Wheel you will have the lake to your right where geese, swans, great crested grebes, coots and even golden eye ducks can be seen at this time of year. Narrow pathways cut out into the lake if you feel foolhardy, but watch your step! The geese tend to relax on the island in the middle of the lake. You always know when they are about to take off as they all start honking together, as if to encourage each other to summon up the effort. A more emotive sight and sound is hard to imagine.
BARN OWLS AND BUZZARDS
A few hundred yards further on and the landscape opens up into open farmland and it’s here that you may be lucky enough to see a barn owl or buzzard. The owls patrol or ‘quarter’ the land with a soundless and ghostly flight, appearing from nowhere and looking at you with disdain before wheeling away. Look for them after a night of heavy rain as they will not have been able to feed and will therefore come out to hunt earlier in the evening.
THE PRIVATE RESERVE
The newts are located in the protected nature reserve which is blocked with a gate and not open to the public. However, if you would like to see them Froglife who look after the site do offer a number of guided events. You can contact them on email: info@froglife or phone: 01733 558844 for further details.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Hampton is a testament to how man and nature can live side by side. You would expect the construction of thousands of houses to threaten the local ecosystem, but with careful planning the wildlife has been allowed to flourish. The numerous lakes, trees and reed beds mean that even in the middle of Hampton there’s always something to see. Peterborough is already one of just four “Environment Cities” in the UK and has ambitions to become the nation’s environmental capital. I think that’s something we can all be proud of.
- There will eventually be 7000 houses in Hampton
- 50% of the land will be parks, lakes and nature reserve
- 30 trees for every household
- Dozens of lakes and hundreds of ponds in Hampton and the reserve
- 30,000 great crested newts
- One of the last remaining locations for the bearded stonewort in the UK
Europe’s largest private development is not the first place you would think of when planning an autumnal stroll to commune with nature. However, Hampton packs a surprising number of rare and renowned plants and animals into its surrounding countryside according to Dan Waters, a local wildlife photographer.
Hampton reserve is famous for having Europe’s largest population of great crested newts. They live in the hundreds of ponds created by the abandoned pits of an old clay factory that once excavated the site. However, you will find there are many other treasures if you take a quiet walk round, particularly in the early evening or morning.
GETTING STARTED
The best place to start is at the entrance to Hampton Vale on the A15. On the left as soon as you turn into Eagle Way you will see two large stones flanking a path that runs across a piece of wasteland. Follow this path as it turns round to the right alongside the A15. 100 yards on the left you’ll see a sign for the Green Wheel and it’s time to keep your eyes open.
MUNTJAC DEER
As you start your walk you have a good chance of seeing muntjac tiptoe through the small scrub field on the left, particularly as the undergrowth is beginning to thin out at this time of year. Even if you don’t see one you may hear their eerie barking that can make your spine tingle. If you turn right and head down the small path between the brambles you can enjoy a secluded piece of woodland. Here the greater spotted and ‘laughing’ green woodpeckers join the deer and the sun sets through the trees and over the lake ahead.
WILDFOWL
Carrying along round the Green Wheel you will have the lake to your right where geese, swans, great crested grebes, coots and even golden eye ducks can be seen at this time of year. Narrow pathways cut out into the lake if you feel foolhardy, but watch your step! The geese tend to relax on the island in the middle of the lake. You always know when they are about to take off as they all start honking together, as if to encourage each other to summon up the effort. A more emotive sight and sound is hard to imagine.
BARN OWLS AND BUZZARDS
A few hundred yards further on and the landscape opens up into open farmland and it’s here that you may be lucky enough to see a barn owl or buzzard. The owls patrol or ‘quarter’ the land with a soundless and ghostly flight, appearing from nowhere and looking at you with disdain before wheeling away. Look for them after a night of heavy rain as they will not have been able to feed and will therefore come out to hunt earlier in the evening.
THE PRIVATE RESERVE
The newts are located in the protected nature reserve which is blocked with a gate and not open to the public. However, if you would like to see them Froglife who look after the site do offer a number of guided events. You can contact them on email: info@froglife or phone: 01733 558844 for further details.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Hampton is a testament to how man and nature can live side by side. You would expect the construction of thousands of houses to threaten the local ecosystem, but with careful planning the wildlife has been allowed to flourish. The numerous lakes, trees and reed beds mean that even in the middle of Hampton there’s always something to see. Peterborough is already one of just four “Environment Cities” in the UK and has ambitions to become the nation’s environmental capital. I think that’s something we can all be proud of.
- There will eventually be 7000 houses in Hampton
- 50% of the land will be parks, lakes and nature reserve
- 30 trees for every household
- Dozens of lakes and hundreds of ponds in Hampton and the reserve
- 30,000 great crested newts
- One of the last remaining locations for the bearded stonewort in the UK
|
Previous (8 of 8)
|
|
Also in: Wildlife and photography articles
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |
