Take a walk with a Park Ranger!

Each month there will be a route organised around Sconce and Devon and around Vicar Water Country Park, and along the way our park rangers will chat through the nature and wildlife you can spot, what each season brings for that area, and answer any other questions you have about the wonderful biodiversity and wildlife that thrives there.

These guided walks will be a brilliant opportunity for anyone who is interested in getting to know more about the nature and wildlife that our district is home to, and whether you are already knowledgeable about the local environment or looking to find out more about it, everyone is sure to learn something from our expert rangers!

Not only will these walks be a chance to learn about our beautiful parks, but they will also be a fantastic opportunity to spend time connecting with nature, taking in some fresh air, getting active and meeting new people.

In order to cover a variety of routes in both parks, and to suit a range of residents, the walks will rotate in length from short, to medium to long each month.

Sconce and Devon Park’s guided walks will be held on the first Tuesday of every month, and everyone will meet by the Park Ranger’s office next to the Rumbles Café. You must book onto the walk you would like to join through the Council’s website here: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/sconceanddevon/.

Vicar Water Country Park’s guided walks will be held on the third Tuesday of every month, and everyone will meet by the Park Ranger’s office next to the Rumbles Café. You must book onto the walk you would like to join through the Council’s website here: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/vicarwater/.

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “These guided walks are such a wonderful addition to Sconce and Devon and Vicar Water Country Park and I’m so excited to hear what people think once they have had the chance to join one!

“We know how wonderful our parks are for allowing biodiversity and wildlife to thrive and what a great space they are for our health and wellbeing whether that’s socialising, relaxing or exercising and these walks will add to that. Our Park Rangers have so much expert knowledge about the parks, and I really encourage everyone to try these guided walks out to learn from them, connect with nature and spend some time getting active in the fresh air!”

Vicar Water Country Park has been recognised as a Green Flag Award-winning park for a number of years and is located in Clipstone on the site of a former colliery. Over the years the park has transformed into a thriving green space for visitors to enjoy, with an abundance of biodiversity and wildlife too. The heathland, woodland and grassland, and lake all provide homes and food for a variety of wildlife, including kingfishers, herons, water scorpions, frogs and newts, emperor dragonflies, green woodpeckers, and more.

Sconce and Devon Park, also a Green Flag Award winner, is Newark’s largest open space and home to a variety of habitats including riverside, pastures, woodlands, grasslands and an orchard. Although some rare plant species, such as the flowering rush, are found in the park, the greatest feature is the diverse range of species within such a small area. The area is rich in a variety of plant life from tall oaks to small herbs and grasses. Butterflies and dragonflies are in abundance. A range of birds including kingfishers, swans and thrushes can be spotted.