About the reserve

Balloo Woodland is managed in partnership with Ards and North Down Borough Council and forms an important part of a network of wildlife sites in the area.

The woodland is the last remnant of the gardens of Balloo House - home of the Steele-Nicholson family from the early 1700s – and hosts a fine variety of mature trees including good examples of oak, beech and Scot’s pine, some of which are several hundred years old. Other habitats found here include a small pond, a wildflower meadow and areas of scrub.

In spring, carpets of anemones and bluebells offer a feast for the senses, along with the sounds of many songbirds such as blackcap and chiff-chaff.

On sunny summer days, look out for butterflies fluttering around the grassy areas from common blue and peacock to ringlet.

In winter, the reserve is a great spot to look for birds such as goldcrest and gregarious flocks of long-tailed tit roving through the trees in search of food.

At Balloo Woodland, maintaining the network of formal paths for visitors is a key priority. We also mow the meadow to ensure a colourful wildflower display each year and remove highly invasive non-native species such as Japanese knotweed.