Ludwell Valley Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ludwell Valley Park | |
|---|---|
 View from top of Ludwell Valley Park | |
 | |
| Location |  Exeter, Devon |
| Coordinates | 50°42′33″N 3°29′47″W / 50.7093°N 3.4964°W |
| Area | 50 hectares (500,000 m2) |
| Owned by | Exeter City Council |
| Operated by | Devon Wildlife Trust |
Ludwell Valley Park is wildlife-focused public park in Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom. The park is owned by Exeter City Council and managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. It has a working farm, with grazing animals, as well as arable fields, in addition to wildflower meadows, woodland, and orchards.[1]
The park is located either side of Ludwell Lane, and extends as far as the Topsham Road to the South West.
Exeter City Council began buying previously privately owned farms in the Wonford area of the city in the 1920s. Much of this land was used to build housing such as the garden village around Burnthouse Lane. The Ludwell Valley was kept as farmland, with the council letting the land out to tenants.[2]
In 1983, the area gained protection as the council created the 'Valley Parks' of Exeter.[2]
Once the final tenant farmer died in 1998, the council took back direct control of the land management.[2]
In May 2019, management of the park, along with the other Valley Parks, was transferred to the Devon Wildlife Trust.[2]
