St Nicholas Park

The Northumberland Wildlife Trust headquarters are situated in the grounds of St Nicholas Park. The park is a mosaic of different habitats; these include areas of maturing woodland, a small pond, grassland and a wildlife friendly garden. The park is surrounded by housing estates, and as a result acts as a refuge for many species of animal; with the variety of habitats there is a good number of species to be found in the grounds. There is a play area and a stone circle with examples of many of the rocks found around Northumberland. The pond has a good number of plant and animal species living in it. Frogs, palmate newt, common darter dragonfly, blue tailed damselfly, emerald damselfly, azure damselfly, common blue damselfly, yellow flag iris, and marsh marigold. Butterflies recorded on the site include holly blue, small skipper, comma and orange tip. There is woodland all the way around the site which was planted up fifteen years containing a wide number of both native and non-native tree species. The woodland provides an excellent habitat for birds all year round, and the berry producing shrubs has attracted in waxwings. There is a good mixture of plants around the site including meadow sweet and ragged robin. The grassland contains species such as yellow rattle, cowslip and tufted vetch, given time this habitat will become more diverse.

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