At Ufford Park Resort we are really lucky to be set in 120 acres of stunning historic parkland. No matter what the weather, sun, cloud, rain or even snow, the view is amazing, but it’s not just the view that makes Ufford Park such a special place. It’s the wildlife, and with that comes a responsibility to the animals who live here.
In designing and improving our 18 hole golf course and perimeter trail the habitats of the various creatures is always taken into account.
We are very proud of the abundance of wildlife in our parkland setting, and of the time and effort that our wonderful greenkeepers spend, not only keeping the course in top condition, but also in the care they take in making sure that the animals are looked after and considered as well.
On talking to our Head Greenkeeper I was amazed to discover that we have a resident Water Vole on the 8th, as well as breeding Kestrels, a Red Kite, a pair of Nightingales and a Kingfisher.
While walking around the golf course perimeter trail, or out playing golf, we regularly see the rabbits hopping about their daily lives, foxes wandering about, and squirrels foraging for food, but we also have otters, badgers, and muntjacs.
If you take a moment to stop and listen, you can hear the birds singing. A wonderful, happy sound, and there are so many of them, each with their own song.
Every year our local RSPB group (Woodbridge) take time out of their busy lives to visit us for three hours and carry out a survey, logging all the birds that they see and/or hear from our perimeter path.
Over the years it has remained pretty constant at around 31 different species!
In 2025 they came out in March instead of the previous October. The total number of species was somewhat lower than they would have expected, given the glorious weather, but apparently that could be because we were in between seasons - Winter was more or less gone but Spring had still to arrive properly. They recorded 28 species ranging from Sparrows, Blue Tits and Robins to green woodpeckers, Red Wings and Buzzards. In fact, one cheeky little Robin may well join you for lunch on our terrace.
Every year we have our regulars;
Black birds
Blue tits
Buzzard
Carrion crow
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Egyptian geese
Goldfinch
Great tit
House sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Long tailed tit
Magpie
Mistle thrush
Pied wagtail
Robin
Rook
Starling
Wood pigeon
Wren
Some days one of the beautiful pairs of Egyptian Geese (we have 21 Geese in total) can even be seen wondering around the ponds near the hotel, resting and showing off their babies in the warmer months.
Obviously, not all the birds are out and about during the 3 hours of the survey, or they may just be occasional visitors, but the following have been seen or heard at Ufford Park by the RSPCB over the years as well;
Bullfinch
Chiffchaff
Coal tit
Collared Dove
Great spotted woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
Herring Gull
House martin
Kestrel
Little egret
Mallard
Moorhen
Pheasant
Redwing
Siskin
SkylarkStock Dove
Maybe you are fluent in bird song, maybe you love hearing and seeing them, but can only tell a few apart, or maybe you have never really paid much attention, although I would find that hard to believe. Whatever your bird knowledge there is always room for improvement and the RSPB is the place to improve or join with like minded people.
We would like to thank the RSPB Woodbridge local group for visiting us and forwarding their findings onto us. All the knowledge we find out about the wildlife here at the park helps our Greenkeepers keep them safe, provide special habitats for them and ensure they have what they need to prosper.
Don’t forget that once you have explored our 2 mile perimeter walk/trim trail and enjoyed the soothing sights and sounds of being in such a beautiful spot you can head to the bar or restaurant where you can sit and relax and just enjoy the view.
Did you know…
- We have a reservoir. It holds 4 million gallons of water and is filled by surface water only (no ground water).
- We have planted 320 meters of native hedging for the birds to nest in.
- Our ‘long rough’ on the golf course is managed and rotated so as to always provide cover for the mice and other small animals.
- Several bird boxes have been put up on the terraces and are being used by Blue Tits.
Check out the RSPB Woodbridge website and see all the lovely walks and interesting events that they hold. You never know, you may even learn how to differentiate each bird song.
