Woodland and Brook

Meadowbrook Park is 10 acres of land in the heart of Dartington. It includes recreational buildings, a bike track, woodlands, a section of the Bidwell Brook and playing fields (Dorothy Elmhirst Playing Field).

The land is owned by Dartington Hall Trust on long lease to Dartington Recreation Association (DRA).

Green Vision for Meadowbrook Park

Earthjump CIC in collaboration with the DRA has worked with the wider Meadowbrook community to develop a Green Vision for the park, aiming to:

• Maintain and enhance the important habitats and species
• Provide high quality sites for education, recreation and sport
• Maintain and enhance public enjoyment of the green spaces
• Conserve a much valued green space in the heart of Dartington

Wild meadow areas

The most established meadow is in the Rabbit Triangle in the west of the park — a damp site where grassland has existed since at least 1946. Notable species include Southern Marsh Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids.

Semi-natural broadleaved woodland

Much of the woodland in the park has grown since 1946, where trees existed mainly in a narrow strip along Bidwell Brook.

Wildlife

The park supports a rich variety of wildlife. Reptiles and amphibians include slow worms, grass snakes and common toads. Birds include greater spotted woodpeckers, song thrush, and kingfishers along the brook. Mammals include dormice, hedgehogs, stoats, bank voles and wood mice. A variety of bat species have been recorded, including greater and lesser horseshoe bats, pipistrelles and barbastelle.

Young trees in Dorothy Elmhirst Field

In November 2019 pupils from Dartington Primary and the Wave Academy planted saplings of rowan, wild cherry, field maple and silver birch, donated by the Woodland Trust. These trees are now cared for by volunteers from the local community.