Castle Espie facts for kids
The ornamental duck pool at Castle Espie
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Castle Espie is a special place for nature. It is a wetland reserve found in Northern Ireland. It sits right by Strangford Lough, near a town called Comber. This amazing place is looked after by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).
Castle Espie is part of the larger Strangford Lough Ramsar Site. A Ramsar Site is a wetland that is important around the world. Many birds come here to spend the winter. This includes almost all the pale-bellied brent geese from North America. The old castle that gave the reserve its name is no longer there.
What Can You See at Castle Espie?
Castle Espie has the biggest collection of ducks, geese, and swans in all of Ireland. You can see many different kinds of these birds up close.
Besides the birds, there are many other things to do. You can visit The Kingfisher Kitchen for food. There is also a gift and book shop. The Graffan Gallery shows art and exhibitions. You can also find special areas to learn more about nature.
The reserve has quiet hides where you can watch birds without disturbing them. You can also enjoy peaceful walks through the woodlands. There are often special events and activities for visitors. Parking is free, and there is a nice picnic area too.
The History of Castle Espie
Castle Espie officially opened as a Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust center on May 4, 1990. Lady Scott helped to open it. Before it became a nature reserve, the land was used for other things.
It used to be a place where people dug for limestone. There was also a brickworks and a pottery here. They had lime kilns to make lime from the limestone. Part of the land was also a farm.
In September 2007, a group called the Heritage Lottery Fund gave a large grant. They provided £2.96 million for a big project. This project aimed to restore the wetlands at Castle Espie. It was the biggest investment in nature in Northern Ireland at that time.
The whole project cost £4 million. The main goal was to improve the habitats for birds. They wanted more waterbirds to come to Castle Espie. This included birds that feed, rest, or breed there. They also built a new visitor center that was good for the environment. Other improvements were made to the bird hides and viewing spots.
About the Townland
Castle Espie is also the name of a local area. This area is called a townland. It covers about 255 acres of land. The name Castle Espie comes from the Irish words Caistéal an Easpaig. This means "castle of the bishop." This townland is in the civil parish of Tullynakill. It is also part of the historic barony of Castlereagh Lower.
