The Paddock Play Area
1 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🛝Family🎠Play
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha
Getting here
53.11743, -2.17880
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦33+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Magpie and Woodpigeon
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦33+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Magpie and Woodpigeon
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground on site — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🅿️Parking· Paid🛝Playground🚻Toilets
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Robin +30 more · last seen 2026
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground, toilets; Urban park — family destination
Free
playground, toilets, parking
Free
Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Robin +30 more · last seen 2026
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Common Nettle, Common Knapweed, Mugwort +29 more · last seen 2026
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, Eristalis pertinax, 7-spot Ladybird +13 more · last seen 2025
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km12 signed routes nearby · 1 public path nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Trent Valley WayWalking route304 km▾
Named routeLength 304 kmPoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Cheshire Ring Canal WalkWalking route▾
Newcastle WayWalking route40 km▾
Market Drayton to Mow Cop
Named routeLength 40 kmRegional walking route
Gritstone Trail (Rushton Spencer - Kidsgrove)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Kidsgrove to Stoke RidgewayWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
57 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cheshire CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 70Regional cycle route
National Route 555Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 555National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network Route 5Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 5National Cycle Network
Route 573Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 573National Cycle Network
National Route 550Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 550National Cycle Network
Route 55Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 55National Cycle Network
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
15,266 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
15,266 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds33 species
springautumnwinter
2026▾
Magpie · Woodpigeon · Robin · Blackbird · Black-headed Gull +28
- MagpiePica pica2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
🦌Mammals3 species
springautumn
2026▾
Mole · Grey Squirrel · Rabbit
- MoleTalpa europaea
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Harlequin Ladybird · Eristalis pertinax · 7-spot Ladybird · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Common Darter +11
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella
- Broad-bodied Chaser
🌿Plants32 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Nettle · Common Knapweed · Mugwort · Wood Avens · Common Sorrel +27
- Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
- Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2025
- MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2025
- Wood AvensGeum urbanum2025
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa2025
- Field Maple
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
15,266 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds33 species
springautumnwinter
2026▾
Magpie · Woodpigeon · Robin · Blackbird · Black-headed Gull +28
- MagpiePica pica2025
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
- RobinErithacus rubecula2025
- BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
- JackdawColoeus monedula2025
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
- Great TitParus major2025
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2025
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major2025
- Coal TitPeriparus ater2025
- NuthatchSitta europaea2025
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025
- StonechatSaxicola rubicola2025
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
- DunnockPrunella modularis2025
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
- JayGarrulus glandarius2025
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2025
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2025
- Willow TitPoecile montanus2025
🦌Mammals3 species
springautumn
2026▾
Mole · Grey Squirrel · Rabbit
- MoleTalpa europaea
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2025
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
Harlequin Ladybird · Eristalis pertinax · 7-spot Ladybird · Common Red Soldier Beetle · Common Darter +11
- Harlequin LadybirdHarmonia axyridis
- Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax
- 7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
- Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum
- Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella
- Broad-bodied Chaser
🌿Plants32 species
springsummer
2026▾
Common Nettle · Common Knapweed · Mugwort · Wood Avens · Common Sorrel +27
- Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
- Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra2025
- MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2025
- Wood AvensGeum urbanum2025
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa2025
- Field Maple
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Libellula depressa
Libellula depressa
Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaLarge Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphulaSyrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesiiSyrphus ribesiiEmerald DamselflyLestes sponsaEmerald DamselflyLestes sponsaCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerumCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerumBlue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegansBlue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegansDolerusDolerusDolerusDolerusRed Mason BeeOsmia bicornisRed Mason BeeOsmia bicornisEristalisEristalisEristalisEristalisSericomyia silentisSericomyia silentis2024Sericomyia silentisSericomyia silentis2024Acer campestre2025
Acer campestre2025
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense2025Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula2025Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula2025Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2025Marsh-marigoldCaltha palustris2025Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa2025Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa2025Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatataBroad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatataHazelCorylus avellanaHazelCorylus avellanaGround-ivyGlechoma hederacea2025Ground-ivyGlechoma hederacea2025HeatherCalluna vulgaris2025HeatherCalluna vulgaris2025Common PoppyPapaver rhoeas2025Common PoppyPapaver rhoeas2025SneezewortAchillea ptarmica2025SneezewortAchillea ptarmica2025BurdockArctium2025BurdockArctium2025Garden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollis2025Garden Lady's-mantleAlchemilla mollis2025BrackenPteridium aquilinum2025BrackenPteridium aquilinum2025Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2025Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum2025Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025Tufted VetchVicia cracca2025Tufted VetchVicia cracca2025Fat-henChenopodium album2025Fat-henChenopodium album2025Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2025Rosebay WillowherbChamaenerion angustifolium2025Trailing BellflowerCampanula poscharskyana2025Trailing BellflowerCampanula poscharskyana2025American SpeedwellVeronica peregrina2025American SpeedwellVeronica peregrina2025Cornish MoneywortSibthorpia europaea2025Cornish MoneywortSibthorpia europaea2025Ivy-leaved BellflowerWahlenbergia hederacea2025Ivy-leaved BellflowerWahlenbergia hederacea2025Yellow AzaleaRhododendron luteum2025Yellow AzaleaRhododendron luteum2025HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025Mind-your-own-businessSoleirolia soleirolii2025Mind-your-own-businessSoleirolia soleirolii2025