Southway Valley is located in the north of Plymouth. It's a good sized green space covering 17 hectares (that's about 17 full-sized football pitches) where you can enjoy walking and playing as well as exploring nature. There's even a miniature steam railway!
Southway Valley has some beautiful woodland to stroll through. A babbling brook follows a course into Tamerton Creek, part of the Tamar Estuary. It's a designated Local Nature Reserve and home to a variety of wildlife.
Stepping Stones to Nature have worked with local residents, pupils from Beechwood and Oakwood Primary schools and the Southway Drive Allotments Association to plant a community orchard in the reserve. Southway Valley also has a new community orchard, planted and cared for by local residents and groups. The trees are old West Country varieties and will hopefully supply us with plenty of apples in years to come!
Why not take the family for a walk through the woods starting at the miniature railway and picnic area down to the meadow and play area at Frontfield Cresent? It's about a 2km walk.
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/parksnatureandgreenspace/localnaturereserves/southwayvalleylnr
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Local Nature Reserves (LNR's) are living green spaces which are important for people and support vibrant wildlife. They are important to the health and prosperity of our city, providing ecosystem services including absorbing carbon, cleaning the air, providing opportunities for pollinating insects and natural flood management. They are free for the public to visit, learn about nature and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors in nature.
There are now 13 Local Nature Reserves in Plymouth (12 of these are owned and managed by Plymouth City Council in partnership with local communities). Volunteer groups are crucial in managing these sites, regular work parties and volunteer groups carry out management activities across the sites.
All unitary, district and county councils can acquire, declare and manage Local Nature Reserves.
In 2018 3 new reserves were designated bringing the total area of LNR within the city to 297 hectares – which is well above the national standard of 1 hectare for every 1000 people.
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/parksnatureandgreenspaces/localnaturereserves
