Nature Reserves

Our nature reserves have an important part to play in helping both people and wildlife over the coming months. This is a difficult time for everyone, and although our carparks are closed to vehicles, we have decided to keep the majority of our nature reserves open for those who can reach them without a car, in the hope that you can find some moments in nature to help your wellbeing.

Now more than ever people are discovering our nature reserves located within walking or cycling distance of their homes and we have seen visitor numbers over some of our sites significantly increase.

The natural world continues to need our help. At this time of year nesting birds and wildflowers are particularly vulnerable.

Our livestock will also soon be out grazing at more of our sites and our sheep are lambing. Dogs running off the lead put our animals at risk.

We urge visitors to respect our sites as spaces for wildlife and the quiet enjoyment of nature. We also need visitors to consider that as an organisation we are facing challenging times and do not have the resources to deliver our normal programme of practical work.

If you are accessing our nature reserves for your daily dose of outdoor time, then please do so with sensitivity and care, and adhere to current government guidelines around social distancing.

• Please stay on the paths. Straying from the paths is a threat to nesting birds and can cause damage to emerging wild flowers and other plants
• Please keep your dogs on the lead, clean up after them and take the waste home for disposal
• If you witness any vandalism or spot anything of concern during your visit, please report this to us immediately via [email protected] . Please note that any necessary repairs may not always be immediately possible as the majority of our staff are working from home.

Thank you!

Our nature reserves play an important part in raising awareness about the value of the natural world. From woodlands, wildflower meadows, hedgerows, streams, rivers, chalk downland, valleys, bogs and wetlands, now is the time to get out your boots and binoculars and go wild in the country.

What is really out there?  Where is it?  When can I see it?  Why is it there?  How can it survive?  Come and visit one of our nature reserves today and find out some of the answers. They are open all year and they’re free!

See our nature reserve map!