Wonderful Witton not to be ignored

12:08pm Monday 10th March 2008

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OVER the past few weeks I have been out and about exploring the nature walks all over Lancashire.

It is about time that I went local as East Lancashire naturalists do tend to ignore Witton Park.

Here are 480 acres of delightful countryside, parkland, gardens and strolls along the banks of the Darwen.

This river is now clean enough to support invertebrates, fish and birds including the grey wagtail, dipper and the occasional kingfisher.

Built for the prosperous Feilden family in 1800, the house was demolished in the 1960s but still remaining are the coach houses and barns which have now been converted into a visitors centre, cafe and a base for the countryside rangers.

There is parking near the riverside and here are information points and a display of small mammals, entry to which is free. Most of the walks in the park are wheelchair-friendly.

The footpaths around Billinge Wood are excellent for bird watching with resident species including great spotted woodpecker and tawny owl. In summer there are visitors including willow warbler, redstart and swallows.

Winter watches are excellent, but in spring and summer there is the extra joy of lots of colourful plants including rhododendron and in the pond the water lilies are delightful.

This puts real emphasis on the definition of enjoying wildlife. "Think global but walk local" is a philosophy which gives us pleasure.