On this page: Information about Stanton Park - a publicly-owned country park and nature reserve.
Stanton Park is a 74-hectare country park and Local Nature Reserve a few minutes drive away from the centre of Swindon.
It features extensive woodland and a large lake. The Park also contains a Scheduled Ancient Monument- the site of a Roman Villa (although there are no visible remains).
It is the holder of a Green Flag award, which describes it as an 'inspiring and largely unspoiled example of a country park'.
Nature Reserve status was acquired for 36 hectares of the park that includes the lake, woodland and grassland.
Stanton Park is wholly owned by Swindon Borough Council and is therefore provided for the whole community.
The Council's Ranger Team manages the park with the help of the Volunteer Rangers and other interested groups.
Character
For many people the park provides a sense of wilderness, tranquillity and exploration - a gateway to the wider countryside, rich in a patchwork of habitats where heritage and wildlife live in harmony.
The park provides an exceptionally wide range of habitats, such as:
Remnants of ancient woodland
Hedgerows
Wildflower meadows
Wetlands
A lake, streams and a series of recently restored ponds
Over 900 species of fungi
A mixture of mature, specimen hardwood trees
These habitats are home to a correspondingly large variety of life, including:
Facilities
Visitor Information and interpretation room
Demonstration Farmhouse kitchen garden
Circular surfaced route suitable for wheelchairs
Toilet block including disabled facilities
Baby changing unit
Cycle racks
Car parking
We do ask, in the interest of safety and respect for the wildlife, that dogs are kept under control especially when near grazing sheep or cattle.
The Ranger Centre, located in the old farmhouse, is where the team co-ordinates the practical habitat management, wildlife surveys, volunteer working parties and educational events for many of the Borough-owned sites including Stanton Park.
Long Term Plan
The long term plan for the site is to protect and enhance the wildlife while developing the area as a country park and managing the meadows in a traditional way, with livestock and hay cutting.
Events
The Ranger Team organises a large number of fun and educational events - for full details please see our Events Calendar - Stanton Park Events.
Map
The pin on the map shows the entrance to the park.
Access
There are several footpaths from the park to the villages of Stanton Fitzwarren and Blunsdon. Other paths link the park to the Woodland Trust's Stratton Community Woodland site.
The closest bus stop is the final stop in South Marston Industrial Estate (Excell Warehouse) - about a 15-minute walk. This is on the Stagecoach route from Swindon to Highworth - see the Stagecoach website - Timetables (www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables.aspx).
Further Information
A brief guide to what can be found at Stanton Park is available as a downloadable PDF file:
Stanton Park Picture Guide (1Mb).
Please see the Green Flag website: Stanton Park (www.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag/GreenFlagAwardSites/SouthWest/Default.aspx?parkID=953).
More details, including the history of the park, are included in a factsheet, which is available as a downloadable PDF file:
Stanton Country Park (182Kb).
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