Ludwell Valley Park

Ludwell Valley Park is wildlife-focused public park in Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom. The park is owned by Exeter City Council and managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. It has a working farm, with grazing animals, as well as arable fields, in addition to wildflower meadows, woodland, and orchards.[1]

Ludwell Valley Park
Image at top of hill in Ludwell Park, looking towards the Wonford area of Exeter
View from top of Ludwell Valley Park
LocationUnited KingdomExeter, Devon
Coordinates50.7093°N 3.4964°W / 50.7093; -3.4964
Area50 hectares (500,000 m2)
Owned byExeter City Council
Operated byDevon Wildlife Trust

The park is located either side of Ludwell Lane, and extends as far as the Topsham Road to the South West.

History

Exeter City Council began buying previously privately owned farms in the Wonford area of the city in the 1920s. Much of this land was used to build housing such as the garden village around Burnthouse Lane. The Ludwell Valley was kept as farmland, with the council letting the land out to tenants.[2]

In 1983, the area gained protection as the council created the 'Valley Parks' of Exeter.[2]

Once the final tenant farmer died in 1998, the council took back direct control of the land management.[2]

In May 2019, management of the park, along with the other Valley Parks, was transferred to the Devon Wildlife Trust.[2]

Incidents

In July 1993, a 48-year old woman from Torbay was attacked, tied up, and sexually assaulted in the park,[3] with an Exeter man jailed for 18 years for the attack.[4]

A 74 year old woman was murdered in a knife attack on 18 February 2023 at around 4pm, despite the attendance of the air ambulance[5][6][7] A man was arrested in Exeter High Street later that evening.[8][9] Devon and Cornwall Police opened a major incident investigation, named Op Finnart,[10] and a 30 year old man from Exmouth was charged with murder on 20 February.[11][12][13][14]

On the afternoon of Sunday 9 April 2023, a female was allegedly subject to a sexual assault in the park.[15]

Wildlife

The park has a range of wildlife.

The park is home to a flock of Cirl buntings.[16]

References
  1. "About Ludwell Valley Park". Ludwell Life.
  2. "The History of the Ludwell Valley" (PDF). Heavitree Local History Society.
  3. "'I thought he would kill me'". Herald Express. 1995-01-20.
  4. "18 years for Devon rapist". Herald Express. 1995-02-25.
  5. "Exeter: Man held over murder of woman in Ludwell Valley Park". BBC News. 2023-02-19.
  6. "Ludwell Valley Park 'murder': Man arrested after 70-year-old woman dies in Exeter attack". The News. 2023-02-20.
  7. "Exeter park murder arrest - pictures from the scene of woman's tragic death". Devon Live. 2023-02-19.
  8. "Ludwell Valley Park: Man arrested after woman in her 70s dies in park attack". Evening Standard. 2023-02-19.
  9. "Pensioner, 74, stabbed to death despite witnesses rushing to help her". Metro. 2023-02-19.
  10. "Op Finnart - Appeal for Information". UK Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  11. "Man charged with murdering woman in Ludwell Valley Park, Exeter". BBC News. 2023-02-20.
  12. "Exeter murder: Cameron Davis appears in court charged with killing Lorna England in Ludwell Valley Park". DevonLive. 2023-02-20.
  13. "Exmouth man, 30, is charged with murdering a 74-year-old woman in a park in Exeter". East Devon News. 2023-02-20.
  14. "Man charged with murder after woman stabbed to death in Exeter park". ITV News. 2023-02-20.
  15. "Exeter sex assault: Police investigating after Ludwell Valley Park attack". Devon Live. 2023-04-10.
  16. "British Birds". 92 (8). August 1999. ISSN 0007-0335. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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