Lodges & Waterways
Originally, the lodges were water reservoirs the mills used to power waterwheels and steam engines. Without the lodges, the mills were dependent on the weather, laying off workers during dry spells and calling them in at all hours when there was water. Today, water in the Dell is a valuable resource for wildlife and many plant and animal species depend on it.
Birds like the Moorhen, the Mallard, and the Canada Goose nest here. The first two species are native, whereas the Canada Goose was brought into the United Kingdom in the late 17th Century as an ornamental attraction for the parks and gardens of stately homes.
In early June, on the banks along the streams you will see Marsh Orchids, Bistort, Yellow Flag and Pink Purslane. Trees like the Alder and the Willow love to bathe their roots in the shallow water.
Although originally restricted to a few areas, Canada Geese have spread to other habitats such as Healey Dell. As a result, the population has increased from around 19,000 in the 1970s to over 100,000 today. Unfortunately, these large numbers are causing problems. The geese can not only damage growing crops, but also parks and gardens. They destroy grass and cause the erosion of banks. They can also be responsible for extensive fouling causing an unpleasant nuisance with the risk of spreading disease. This is because the droppings contain bacteria that may be harmful to humans if swallowed. Also, during the nesting period, they can become very aggressive.
In the trees you may see the nest of the Grey Heron, who waits like a statue by the waterside for any unsuspecting fish to swim by.
Frogs and newts breed in the shallow water, and fish such as perch and carp swim in the depths.
