Hero species

Watch swans on the lake

Listen to the sounds round the lake

Who lives here

Waterbeach is home to a wide range of species, some of which live here permanently, while others visit from the surrounding landscape through the changing seasons.

Meet some of our hero species and the habitats they call home.

Barn owl

Silent, skilled hunters, barn owls feed on mice, rats and especially voles.

Northern buffer

Brown hare

Nationally rare, Waterbeach may be the only current known site for this species in the county.

Northern buffer

Brown long-eared bat

Enormous ears help brown long-eared bats use echolocation to detect their prey of flying insects.

Western bund and watercourse

Common lizard

Often found basking in the sun between March and October, common lizards are unusual in giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

Western bund and watercourse

Great crested newt

With belly patterns as unique as a fingerprint, the UK population of great crested newts is of international importance.

Former golf course

Hedgehog

The gardener's friend, hedgehogs feed on insects, especially slugs, beetles and worms.

Urban ecology areas

Kingfisher

With a conservation status of 'Amber (Birds of Conservation Concern)', kingfishers can catch over 120 fish per day to feed their chicks.

Lake and runway grassland

Nationally scarce pond skater

Nationally rare, Waterbeach may be the only current known site for this species in the county.

Lake and runway grassland

Swift

T hese boomerang-shaped birds spend most of their lives in the air, sleeping, feeding and mating in the sky.

Urban ecology areas

Water shrew

This unusual shrew has a venomous bite to help immobilise its prey. It also has red-tipped teeth.

Former golf course