Ellenborough Park, Weston-super-Mare

Ellenborough Park is a protected site in Weston-super-Mare covering roughly 1.8 hectares split by Walliscote Road into two distinct sections. The eastern portion has a children's play area, while the western section serves as open grassland used by a nearby school.

The park began in 1855 near Ellenborough Crescent following efforts to create green spaces for retired British officers returning from India. It has remained an important local resource since its establishment.

The western section maintains plant communities with rare species like Branched Horsetail and Smooth Rupturewort, found in limited locations across Britain.

The eastern section is easily accessible and features a play zone suitable for families with children. The western side is open grassland that is best visited when school activities are not in use.

The site is defined by its calcareous sandy soil that supports rare grassland with plants like Sand Cat's-tail and Sea Fern-grass. These particular soil conditions allow species to grow that exist in very few other locations across Britain.