Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome24 ha
Getting here
51.66130, -3.45290
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦60+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Chaffinch
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 231m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦60+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Chaffinch
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 231m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Robin, Chaffinch, Blackbird +57 more · last seen 2025
Free
Birds — Robin, Chaffinch, Blackbird +57 more · last seen 2025
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Small Copper, Peacock, Common Blue +64 more · last seen 2026
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground; Urban park — family destination
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, Rhododendron +105 more · last seen 2024
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Penrhys PilgrimageWalking route▾
Cychoedd-a-Dolenni Loops & LinksWalking route▾
53 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Rhondda Fach TrailCycling route▾
Named routeRef 881National Cycle Network
Cynon TrailCycling route▾
Named routeRef 478National Cycle Network
Proposed NCN 882Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 882National Cycle Network
Rhondda Fawr Community RouteCycling route▾
Named routeRef 882National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Route 47Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 47National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route682 m▾
Named routeRef 881Length 682 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Photos
Approaching Darren Lake in Ferndale
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
1,191 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
1,191 records · National Biodiversity NetworkRobin · Willow Warbler · Chaffinch · Blackbird · Wren +35
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Great TitParus major
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus2024
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2023
- MagpiePica pica2023
- SwiftApus apus2023
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects11 species
wintersummer
2026▾
Leistus oopterus · Formica lemani · Rhagium bifasciatum · Yellow Meadow Ant · Carabus problematicus +6
- Leistus oopterusLeistus oopterus
- Formica lemaniFormica lemani
- Rhagium bifasciatumRhagium bifasciatum
- Yellow Meadow AntLasius flavus
- Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus2023
- Pterostichus nigerPterostichus niger
Zygodon conoideus var. conoideus · Common Apple-moss · Japanese Knotweed · Wall Cotoneaster · Small-leaved Cotoneaster +63
- Zygodon conoideus var. conoideusZygodon conoideus var. conoideus2023
- Common Apple-mossBartramia pomiformis2023
- Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica
- Wall CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis
- Small-leaved CotoneasterCotoneaster microphyllus
- Himalayan CotoneasterCotoneaster simonsii
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
1,191 records · National Biodiversity NetworkRobin · Willow Warbler · Chaffinch · Blackbird · Wren +35
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Great TitParus major
- DipperCinclus cinclus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Lesser RedpollAcanthis flammea cabaret
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2023
- SwallowHirundo rustica2023
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- CrossbillLoxia curvirostra
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
- CuckooCuculus canorus2024
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2023
- House MartinDelichon urbicum2023
- RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2023
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis2023
- MagpiePica pica2023
- SwiftApus apus2023
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris2023
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2023
Common Lizard
- Common LizardZootoca vivipara
🐝Insects11 species
wintersummer
2026▾
Leistus oopterus · Formica lemani · Rhagium bifasciatum · Yellow Meadow Ant · Carabus problematicus +6
- Leistus oopterusLeistus oopterus
- Formica lemaniFormica lemani
- Rhagium bifasciatumRhagium bifasciatum
- Yellow Meadow AntLasius flavus
- Carabus problematicusCarabus problematicus2023
- Pterostichus nigerPterostichus niger
Zygodon conoideus var. conoideus · Common Apple-moss · Japanese Knotweed · Wall Cotoneaster · Small-leaved Cotoneaster +63
- Zygodon conoideus var. conoideusZygodon conoideus var. conoideus2023
- Common Apple-mossBartramia pomiformis2023
- Japanese KnotweedReynoutria japonica
- Wall CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalis
- Small-leaved CotoneasterCotoneaster microphyllus
- Himalayan CotoneasterCotoneaster simonsii
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2023
2023
Black ClockPterostichus madidus2023Black ClockPterostichus madidus2023Notiophilus palustrisNotiophilus palustris2023Notiophilus palustrisNotiophilus palustris2023Psylliodes cucullataPsylliodes cucullata2023Psylliodes cucullataPsylliodes cucullata2023Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023mayfliesEphemeroptera2023mayfliesEphemeroptera2023Two-horned PincerwortCephalozia bicuspidata2023Two-horned PincerwortCephalozia bicuspidata2023Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum2023Waved Silk-mossPlagiothecium undulatum2023Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi2023Red-stemmed Feather-mossPleurozium schreberi2023Red Beard-mossBryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum2023Red Beard-mossBryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum2023Western EarwortScapania gracilis2023Western EarwortScapania gracilis2023Juniper HaircapPolytrichum juniperinum2023Juniper HaircapPolytrichum juniperinum2023Perthshire Beard-mossDidymodon rigidulus2023Perthshire Beard-mossDidymodon rigidulus2023Silky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromalla2023Silky Forklet-mossDicranella heteromalla2023Lateral CryphaeaCryphaea heteromalla2023Lateral CryphaeaCryphaea heteromalla2023Silky Wall Feather-mossHomalothecium sericeum2023Silky Wall Feather-mossHomalothecium sericeum2023Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum2023Rough-stalked Feather-mossBrachythecium rutabulum2023Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata2023Bifid CrestwortLophocolea bidentata2023Racomitrium obtusumRacomitrium obtusum2023Racomitrium obtusumRacomitrium obtusum2023Brunton's Dog-toothCynodontium bruntonii2023Brunton's Dog-toothCynodontium bruntonii2023Bank HaircapPolytrichum formosum2023Bank HaircapPolytrichum formosum2023Swan's-neck Thyme-mossMnium hornum2023Swan's-neck Thyme-mossMnium hornum2023Cow-horn Bog-mossSphagnum auriculatum2023Cow-horn Bog-mossSphagnum auriculatum2023Polytrichum commune s.str.Polytrichum commune s.str.2023Polytrichum commune s.str.Polytrichum commune s.str.2023Inflated NotchwortGymnocolea inflata subsp. inflata2023Inflated NotchwortGymnocolea inflata subsp. inflata2023Wood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinis2023Wood Bristle-mossLewinskya affinis2023Creeping FingerwortLepidozia reptans2023Creeping FingerwortLepidozia reptans2023Broom Fork-mossDicranum scoparium2023Broom Fork-mossDicranum scoparium2023Whiskered VeilwortMetzgeria consanguinea2023Whiskered VeilwortMetzgeria consanguinea2023Neat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purum2023Neat Feather-mossPseudoscleropodium purum2023Common PawwortOrthocaulis floerkei2023Common PawwortOrthocaulis floerkei2023Blueish VeilwortMetzgeria violacea2023Blueish VeilwortMetzgeria violacea2023Mamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoi2023Mamillate Plait-mossHypnum andoi2023Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum2023Elegant Bristle-mossOrthotrichum pulchellum2023Wood-rustCephalozia curvifolia2023Wood-rustCephalozia curvifolia2023Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata2023Grey-cushioned GrimmiaGrimmia pulvinata2023Rusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosus2023Rusty Swan-neck MossCampylopus flexuosus2023Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata2023Forked VeilwortMetzgeria furcata2023Appleyard's Feather-mossScleropodium cespitans2023Appleyard's Feather-mossScleropodium cespitans2023Common Pocket-mossFissidens taxifolius2023Common Pocket-mossFissidens taxifolius2023Tumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosa2023Tumid NotchwortLophozia ventricosa2023Clustered Feather-mossRhynchostegium confertum2023Clustered Feather-mossRhynchostegium confertum2023Fern-leaved Hook-mossCratoneuron filicinum2023Fern-leaved Hook-mossCratoneuron filicinum2023Common SmoothcapAtrichum undulatum2023Common SmoothcapAtrichum undulatum2023Rock Pocket-mossFissidens dubius2023Rock Pocket-mossFissidens dubius2023Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum2023Heath Plait-mossHypnum jutlandicum2023Narrow-leaved Fringe-mossRacomitrium aquaticum2023Narrow-leaved Fringe-mossRacomitrium aquaticum2023Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiformeHypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme2023Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiformeHypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme2023Creeping Feather-mossAmblystegium serpens2023Creeping Feather-mossAmblystegium serpens2023Wavy Beard-mossDidymodon sinuosus2023Wavy Beard-mossDidymodon sinuosus2023Pellucid Four-tooth MossTetraphis pellucida2023Pellucid Four-tooth MossTetraphis pellucida2023RedshankCeratodon purpureus2023RedshankCeratodon purpureus2023White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans2023White EarwortDiplophyllum albicans2023Dotted Thyme-mossRhizomnium punctatum2023Dotted Thyme-mossRhizomnium punctatum2023Green Mountain Fringe-mossRacomitrium fasciculare2023Green Mountain Fringe-mossRacomitrium fasciculare2023Cylindric Beard-mossDidymodon insulanus2023Cylindric Beard-mossDidymodon insulanus2023Mougeot's Yoke-mossAmphidium mougeotii2023Mougeot's Yoke-mossAmphidium mougeotii2023Matted Feather-mossSciuro-hypnum populeum2023Matted Feather-mossSciuro-hypnum populeum2023Frizzled PincushionPlenogemma phyllantha2023Frizzled PincushionPlenogemma phyllantha2023Little Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreus2023Little Shaggy-mossRhytidiadelphus loreus2023Yellow Fringe-mossRacomitrium aciculare2023Yellow Fringe-mossRacomitrium aciculare2023Common Striated Feather-mossEurhynchium striatum2023Common Striated Feather-mossEurhynchium striatum2023Tall-clustered Thread-mossBryum pallescens2023Tall-clustered Thread-mossBryum pallescens2023Wall Screw-mossTortula muralis2023Wall Screw-mossTortula muralis2023Isothecium myosuroidesIsothecium myosuroides2023Isothecium myosuroidesIsothecium myosuroides2023Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare2023Capillary Thread-mossBryum capillare2023Fox-tail Feather-mossThamnobryum alopecurum2023Fox-tail Feather-mossThamnobryum alopecurum2023Common Feather-mossKindbergia praelonga2023Common Feather-mossKindbergia praelonga2023