2016

SD8204 : Squirrel in the Dell at Heaton Park

taken 8 years ago, near to Prestwich, Bury, England

Squirrel in the Dell at Heaton Park
Squirrel in the Dell at Heaton Park
A Sciurus carolinensis (grey squirrel) In the Dell garden at Heaton Park.

The North American grey squirrel was first introduced to Britain and other parts of Europe in 1870 (LinkExternal link (Archive LinkExternal link ) ), being released merely as a curiosity to satisfy the Victorian penchant for novelty. The resilient and adaptable grey squirrel has found the perfect niche and thrived in our broadleaved woodlands, parks and gardens and has become a widely accepted as a natural part of British wildlife. Indeed, they are so successful that targeted control of grey squirrels is having to be implemented in many areas of the UK where they have become a pest.

Contrary to a common misconception, there is no evidence of grey squirrels chasing away the red squirrel. Grey squirrels fare better than red in deciduous woodland whilst red squirrels survive best in coniferous areas. Climate changes over the last century have meant that the pine forests have retreated north where the climates are still cooler, leaving these areas the best places to find Red Squirrels. In addition wide spread deforestation for agriculture, industry and housing together with changes in tree species planted in recent years have favoured greys, with significant red squirrel habitat disappearing.

LinkExternal link (Archive LinkExternal link ) - Conservation Issues UK
LinkExternal link - We’re as native as you
LinkExternal link (Archive LinkExternal link ) - Red squirrel and grey squirrel ecology
Heaton Park :: SD8304

Heaton Park, which comprises the grounds of a Grade I listed neoclassical 18th-century country house, Heaton Hall (SD8304 : Heaton Hall) is located 4 miles north of Manchester city centre. Covering an area reported as over 640 acres, it is the biggest park in Greater Manchester and one of the largest municipal parks in Europe. Heaton Park is listed Grade 2 on the English Heritage Register of Parks and there are nine listed structures in the park. Details can be found on the English Heritage website LinkExternal link .

Heaton Park was sold to Manchester City Council in 1902, by the Earl of Wilton, to be kept for the enjoyment and recreation of the public. Manchester Council later used part of the north side of the park for the construction of a large gravity feed reservoir; interrupted by the First World War, this work was only completed in the 1920s. A municipal golf course (SD8304 : Heaton Park Golf Course) was also laid out and a large boating lake excavated (SD8303 : Heaton Park Boating Lake). The former facade of the first Manchester Town Hall on King Street (SD8303 : Heaton Park - Town Hall Colonnade) was re-erected as a backdrop to the lake.

During the First World War the Manchester Pals used the park as a training depot. The park was also used as the site of a Royal Air Force depot in the Second World War.

At the end of the 20th century the park was renovated and some of the buildings and original vistas from the 18th century landscape design were restored as part of a millennium project partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund and Manchester City Council.

LinkExternal link Heaton Park website


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Trees at Heaton Park [8] · Woodland in Heaton Park [7] ·
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SD8204, 85 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
David Dixon   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Friday, 25 March, 2016   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 31 March, 2016
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 826 043 [100m precision]
WGS84: 53:32.1145N 2:15.7764W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SD 826 043
View Direction
SOUTH (about 180 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Supplemental image
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