Ecos

With 24 ha, this educational nature reserve, outside Ballymena, is great for kids. A watery haven, it consists of traditionally managed hay meadows and damp pasture with abundant insect life, willow scrub, establishing woodland and a small stream - the Devenagh Burn. It’s a great place for orchids, including Irish lady’s tresses, and butterflies. The site has excellent visitor facilities, including a convenient car park, an environmental visitor centre, a great path network and a pond for easy viewing of the resident waterfowl.

Access: Ecos Nature Reserve is open to the general public all year round. Car parking, toilets and café are located at the site. There is a network of surfaced paths around the reserve suitable for wheelchair users.

Getting There: Ecos is signposted off the M2 at Ballymena or it is a short walk from Ballymena town centre.

Look out for: lapwing, curlew, grey heron, kestrel and frogs.

To download a map of Ecos Nature Park click here

To download fun, family activity sheets to complete during and after your visit to Ecos Nature Park click on the links below:

Before your visit:
Ecos Activity Sheet No.1
Ecos Activity Sheet No.2

After your visit:
Ecos Activity Sheet No.3
Ecos Activity Sheet No.4