It has to be one of the town’s best-kept secrets but the small and secluded Swains Lane Nature Reserve has at last achieved recognition, with a 2013 Green Flag award. It’s larger and better-known twin, Wellington Park, also receives the award.
Cllr Catherine Herbert, who holds Taunton Deane council’s Sports, Parks and Leisure portfolio, said: “We are incredibly lucky to have such wonderful parks and green spaces. It is down to the hard work of our own staff and huge support from the many Friends and community groups that our parks have been recognised yet again.”
Swains Lane Nature Reserve is made up of two small fields bounded by banked elm hedgerows and surrounded by modern housing. Both fields used to be orchards. The southern field still contains several old apple trees.
The grassland is semi-improved and contains the occasional cuckoo flower, meadowsweet, and doves foot cranes bill. The southern field has a pond, which is home to an important population of amphibians including great crested newt, palmate newt and toad.
Swains Lane Nature Reserve