Nature Discovery Centre

BBOWT Nature Discovery Centre (NDC) at Thatcham. Picture: Jo Thrussell

BBOWT Nature Discovery Centre (NDC) at Thatcham. Picture: Jo Thrussell

Nature Discovery Centre

The Nature Discovery Centre is surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats with fantastic wildlife to see all year around.

Location

Muddy Lane, Lower Way
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG19 3FU

OS Map Reference

SU 506 672

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A static map of Nature Discovery Centre

Know before you go

Size
35 hectares
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Entry fee

Donations to help support our work for local wildlife are welcome via our donation stations in the car park
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Parking information

car park
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Walking trails

Colour-coded waymarked walking routes 

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Access

Flat and level around the lake; a mobility Tramper vehicle is available to borrow free of charge on a first come, first served basis - click here to book online or call 01635 874381 for same-day reservations.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlDogs permitted

Dogs are welcome on the reserve, but please keep them out of the lake. We ask that you keep dogs under close control at all times. Well-behaved dogs are welcome inside the visitor centre on a lead.

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Outdoor play area
Disabled parking
Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Tuesday - Sunday, 10am-4:30pm for the Visitor Centre, shop and toilets (café: 10am-4pm)

Best time to visit

All year round

About the reserve

The Nature Discovery Centre is surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats with fantastic wildlife to see all year round. Wander along the paths beside the lake, visit the internationally important Thatcham Reedbeds nature reserve or explore some of the nearby woodland. There is a large network of footpaths, perfect for family days out or the more adventurous.

Ash dieback

A programme of ash dieback safety work is taking place at this site. Diseased ash trees can become very unstable and BBOWT is employing specialist contractors to fell or reduce diseased trees where they pose a risk to public safety. The work is being planned and timed to minimise the impact on wildlife. Healthy trees will be retained, and trees and shrubs will be allowed to naturally regenerate in the felled areas. To minimise the number of trees we need to remove and to ensure the safety of visitors, some paths or areas of the reserve will be closed.

To find out more, read our ash dieback FAQs.

Birds

During the autumn and winter, large groups of wintering wildfowl congregate on the lake, whilst the reedbeds and surrounding woodland and hedgerows host birds like fieldfare and redwing.

In spring and summer, purpose-built rafts attract breeding common terns. House martins, swallows and swifts are a common sight over the lake and surroundings.

Throughout the year, one of our volunteers surveys the species of bird found on site. The bird lists below show the variety of species that visit across the seasons. 

Nature Discovery Centre bird list 2023

Nature Discovery Centre bird list  2022

Nature Discovery Centre bird list 2021

Nature Discovery Centre bird list 2020

Our volunteer also leads regular walks around the reserve to help visitors learn about what they can see and hear during their visit and learn more about each species. 

See what's on

Plants

In summer there are glorious displays of purple loosestrife, yellow-flag iris, reeds and sedges on the floating island, the lake shore and in the reedbeds.

All year around look out for the willow and alder around the edge of the lake, and hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle and bullace in the hedgerows.

Invertebrates

A variety of moths and butterflies can be seen, including garden tiger, butterbur, waved black, holly blue, and gatekeeper. There are dragonflies and damselflies including beautiful and banded demoiselles, emperor and four-spotted chaser. A range of beetles such as bloody-nosed beetle and rhinoceros beetle have been recorded on site.

Thatcham Reedbeds

Visit the nearby Thatcham Reedbeds, one of the largest areas of inland reedbed in Southern England and home to some of the country's rarest reed specialists, including Desmoulin's snail.

Contact us

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Contact number: 01635 874381
Contact email: info@bbowt.org.uk
Staff from BBOWT and Grundon in the new lakeside bird hide at the Nature Discovery Centre

From left: Anthony Foxlee-Brown and Kirsti Santer of Grundon, and Tanya Alexander and Tom Hayward of BBOWT in the new lakeside bird hide at the Nature Discovery Centre (NDC). Picture: Pete Hughes

Visitor Centre

A great day out for all

The Nature Discovery Centre is packed full of interactive wildlife and natural history displays. Take a stroll around our beautiful nature reserve then relax with a cup of tea and a cake in the lakeside café.

 

Find out more
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