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Ecos Centre Nature Park

Kernohans Lane, Broughshane Road, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT43 7QA
Ecos Centre Nature Park

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About

Ecos Nature Park lies within the flood plain of the River Braid and is an oasis of wildlife close to the heart of Ballymena town centre. Eight kilometres of mostly flat footpath gently leads visitors around 220 acres of parkland that includes maturing woodland, peaceful lake and ponds, wet grasslands and meadows grazed by Irish Moiled cattle. Two way marked circular trails take you through the site.

In summer time the fields are adorned by, at times, hundreds of butterflies softly flitting around the meadows nectar from the wildflowers that are proliferating in the park. Your ears can be soothed by the gentle songs of meadow pipits and skylarks and many other bird species that choose to breed here. Ecos is an ideal breeding refuge for these and other farmland birds like snipe, grasshopper warbler and dunnock that are in sharp decline in other parts of Northern Ireland.

In winter large flocks of lapwing can be seen circling and swooping around the park, before settling down to feast on many insects in the soft soil of the meadows. If you approach the lake quietly you could feed the mallard ducks, geese and swans, or spot the many migrant ducks that dabble for food on the lake shore. Often you can hear the soft whistles of teal echoing across the water. Large flocks of chittering finches and linnets are a common sight busily feeding around the park.

Of particular interest at Ecos is a family of otters which are mostly very shy animals, but have been seen splashing around on the Braid River and the lake. Some unusual visitors to the park include the white-winged black terns (small terns with incredibly acrobatic flight displays rarely seen in Ireland), and a hoopoe (found most often in the Mediterranean). A particularly rare plant, the Irish Ladies Tresses Orchid appeared in 2006. This plant is only known to occur at 8 sites in Northern Ireland.

Ecos Nature Park received the Green Flag award from 2016 to 2019 and is well worth a visit!

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Facilities

Attraction Facilities

  • Open Evenings
  • Open Mondays
  • Open Sundays

Catering

  • Picnic Area
  • Tea-room/Cafe onsite

Children & Infants

  • Baby changing facilities

Establishment Features

  • Toilets

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking

Provider Preferences

  • Dogs accepted by arrangement
  • Free (parking charges may apply)

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
TicketFree

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

Related

Serving counter and tables and chairs in main eating area of the The Secret Garden CafeSecret Garden Cafe, BallymenaThe Secret Garden Cafe located in the grounds of Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena operates 7 days a week, providing refreshments alongside hot and cold food.

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Tel+44 (0) 28 2564 4046

Map & Directions

Opening Times

* Park grounds open 24 hours.
The Secret Garden Cafe and toilets within the Ecos building open 9:00 - 17:00 Monday to Sunday.

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Related

Serving counter and tables and chairs in main eating area of the The Secret Garden CafeSecret Garden Cafe, BallymenaThe Secret Garden Cafe located in the grounds of Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena operates 7 days a week, providing refreshments alongside hot and cold food.

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