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Nature Discovery Centre reopens after £125,000 revamp

Nature Discovery Centre manager Steve Johnson, left, with staff and volunteers next to the new insect-friendly welcome sign. Picture: Pete Hughes

New layout for cafe and shop, new menu, new products and a new 'hide in the sky' among the improvements.

BBOWT's beloved Nature Discovery Centre at Thatcham has reopened after a £125,000 refurbishment. The revamp has created an open-plan layout for the popular cafe and shop, new educational table displays and a wildlife-themed children's play corner.

The icing on the cake is a brand new 'hide in the sky' on the first floor of the centre - a viewing station overlooking the wildlife lake where visitors can use a telescope and binoculars to spy on all the wild goings-on below.

The café is also serving a new warming winter menu and new products in the shop include locally-produced honey, Fairtrade chocolate, local art and jewellery and a host of Christmas cards, decorations and gifts.

Educational books for sale at the Nature Discovery Centre shop

Educational books for sale at the Nature Discovery Centre shop. Picture: Pete Hughes

The renovations were commissioned by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) which manages the site, and funded by a grant of £125,000 from site owner West Berkshire Council.

Steve Johnson, NDC’s Manager, said:
"We are so excited to show everyone all our new features: this is the biggest refurbishment we have had in years and it makes the whole centre a more welcoming, easy-to-use space for all our visitors.

"The NDC is now the perfect place to go for a family day out this winter: take a bracing walk around our wildlife lake, come and have a hot pastry or panini, take a hot chocolate up to the hide in the sky then pick up a few Christmas gifts while you're here! Huge thanks to West Berkshire Council for the funding."

A new noticeboard at the Nature Discovery Centre

A new noticeboard at the Nature Discovery Centre. Picture: Pete Hughes

As well as improvements indoors, the centre team have also put up several new interpretation boards in the grounds telling visitors about things to do around the site and upcoming events.

A host of new welcome signs also include an innovative three-dimensional wooden 'Nature' sign on an exterior wall which is filled with bits of wood and other natural materials, which solitary bees and other insects can nest in.

Inside, a new wall-mounted screen is showing specially-commissioned drone footage and other videos of animals and plants around the site, so visitors can admire the diverse wildlife even on the rainiest days.

Nature Discovery Centre manager Steve Johnson and other staff.

Nature Discovery Centre manager Steve Johnson, left, with staff and volunteers next to the new insect-friendly welcome sign. Picture: Pete Hughes

The new Nature Discovery Centre cafe

The new Nature Discovery Centre cafe. Picture: Pete Hughes

New educational tabletop displays at the Nature Discovery Centre

New educational tabletop displays at the Nature Discovery Centre. Picture: Pete Hughes

The new children's corner at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe

The new children's corner at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe. Picture: Pete Hughes

The new Nature Discovery Centre cafe

The new Nature Discovery Centre cafe. Picture: Pete Hughes

The new wall-mounted display at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe

The new wall-mounted display at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe. Picture: Pete Hughes

The new shop counter at the Nature Discovery Centre

The new shop counter at the Nature Discovery Centre. Picture: Pete Hughes

Fairtrade chocolate and locally-produced honey at the Nature Discovery Centre shop

Fairtrade chocolate and locally-produced honey at the Nature Discovery Centre shop. Picture: Pete Hughes

Educational books for sale at the Nature Discovery Centre shop

Educational books for sale at the Nature Discovery Centre shop. Picture: Pete Hughes

Families learning in the new children's corner at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe

Families learning in the new children's corner at the Nature Discovery Centre cafe. Picture: Pete Hughes

A new noticeboard at the Nature Discovery Centre

A new noticeboard at the Nature Discovery Centre. Picture: Pete Hughes

Nature Discovery Centre manager Steve Johnson with staff and volunteers showing off the new insect-friendly welcome sign

Nature Discovery Centre manager Steve Johnson with staff and volunteers showing off the new insect-friendly welcome sign. Picture: Pete Hughes

The Wildlife Trust is confident that all the new features will encourage more people to visit the NDC and help teach all visitors, young and old, about wonderful local wildlife.

Councillor Steve Ardagh-Walter, Executive Member for Environment and Transformation at West Berkshire Council, said:
“We are delighted to help BBOWT deliver this important improvement to the Discovery Centre with a grant. 

“Ensuring our residents can be closer to nature is an objective of the council’s Environment Strategy, which this investment achieves. The Nature Discovery Centre is a key educational and wellbeing asset and one that I would encourage all our residents to visit and enjoy.”

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