Killingworth Lake is a popular man-made lakeside park. The highlight is a small colony of Mute Swans which attracts a great deal of interest. At times Whooper and on rare occasions Bewick Swans can also come to visit. There are two lakes, either side of a Southgate Road. There are sections of open grassland on the southern shore. There are also patches of woodland along the edges of the park which are home to singing Warblers such as Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers in the spring and summer months.
Cormorants and Grey Herons can be seen relaxing on the new islands which have appeared in recent years. The site remains popular for Common Terns and Great Crested Grebes in the summer.
On occasion Black Terns have also been recorded visiting this site. Over recent years the County has witnessed a drop in Pochard numbers, with many sites absent this once widespread duck especially in the winter months. Killingworth continues to be well-loved by our regions Pochards.
A Pochard
The surrounding habitat has benefited from environmental improvements such as the addition of bulrushes along the lakes outskirts. Not only does this make the lake look more natural and visually pleasing, it has also encouraged more wildlife to colonise this urban setting. At times Reed Warblers and Sedge Warbler can now be seen.
During the autumn/winter the lake is alive with Goldeneyes and Goosanders. In the winter of 2015/16; a red head Smew and a couple of Scaup came to visit.
A Whooper Swan
Some nearby businesses have vanished from the surrounding area and these have been replaced with housing and a second supermarket has been built. Killingworth Lake is surrounded by housing in this well established new-town but remains an oasis for wildlife and the variety of species has been increasing over the past couple of years.
County
Tyne & Wear, North Tyneside.
Map Reference
NZ 274 710
Habitats
- Freshwater Lake
- Parkland
Access
There is full public access and the site is suitable for accompanied wheelchairs.
Facilities
There are toilets, shops and cafes in the nearby Morrisons supermarket and Killingworth Shopping Centre.
Parking
There is free parking available close to the lake.