Castle Espie

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Castle Espie
The ornamental duck pool at Castle Espie 2013-10-31 22-14.jpg
The ornamental duck pool at Castle Espie
TypeConservational charity
Location
  • WWT Castle Espie,
    78 Ballydrain Road,
    Comber,
    County Down
    BT23 6EA
Websitewwt.org.uk

Castle Espie is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) on the banks of Strangford Lough, three miles south of Comber, County Down, Northern Ireland, in the townland of the same name. It is part of the Strangford Lough Ramsar Site. It provides an early wintering site for almost the entire Nearctic population of pale-bellied brent geese.[1] The Castle which gave the reserve its name no longer exists.

Features[]

It has the largest collection of ducks, geese and swans in Ireland. In addition to the reserve, the site contains The Kingfisher Kitchen, gift and book shop, The Graffan Gallery, exhibition areas, hides, woodland walks, sensory garden, events and activities, free parking, and a picnic area.[1]

History[]

In 2021 Castle Espie was used as a filming location for the BBC wildlife series Springwatch.[2]

Townland[]

Castle Espie (from Irish: Caistéal an Easpaig, meaning 'castle of the bishop')[3] is also a townland of 255 acres in the civil parish of Tullynakill and the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Castle Espie". Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  2. ^ Tinson, Emma (2 June 2021). "Springwatch: Why isn't Chris Packham presenting Springwatch?". Express.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Castle Espie". Place Names NI. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Castle Espie". IreAtlas Townlands Database. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

Coordinates: 54°31′46″N 5°41′53″W / 54.52935°N 5.69810°W / 54.52935; -5.69810

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