Stanford Park facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Leicestershire |
|---|---|
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 20.4 hectares (50 acres) |
| Notification | 1983 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Stanford Park is a special natural area in Leicestershire, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, or SSSI for short. This means it's protected because of its important plants and wildlife. The park is about 20.4 hectares (50 acres) in size. You can find it east of a village called Swinford.
What Makes Stanford Park Special?
Stanford Park is a beautiful place with lots of open grassy areas, like a big field. You'll see long lines of huge oak trees, which are very old and impressive. There are also many other large trees scattered around the park.
Amazing Lichens
One of the coolest things about Stanford Park is its lichens. Lichens are tiny living things that grow on tree bark and old stones. They are a mix of a fungus and an algae living together. Stanford Park has the most different kinds of lichens in all of Leicestershire!
Scientists have found fifteen types of lichens here that aren't seen anywhere else in the county. These special lichens grow on the bark of the old trees and on the ancient stone structures in the park.
Discovering Stanford Hall
Stanford Park is also home to Stanford Hall. This is a grand, historic house, sometimes called a stately home. It's a very old and beautiful building.
The good news is that Stanford Hall is open to the public. This means you can visit and explore the house and its lovely grounds. It's a great way to see a piece of history and enjoy the park's natural beauty at the same time.
