Where to go in October

With nearly 90 nature reserves across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to choose from, which are the best to visit this month?

Bowdown Woods, Berks

Autumn is a colourful time at Bowdown Woods, which includes areas of woodland, grassland and heathland. Leaves start to turn to shades of gold and brightly coloured fungi push their way to the earth's surface.

Follow our circular Wildlife Walks around each of the three parts of the reserve to discover more.

Access: Variable, the reserve is made up of three areas:
Baynes: steep slopes, uneven underfoot, long flight of steps and a boardwalk.
Bomb Site: flat and surfaced, accessible for robust mobility scooters and robust wheelchairs.
Bowdown: gentle slopes, soft after rain.

Bowdown Woods

College Lake, Bucks

October is a great time to visit College Lake nature reserve. It's when the birds that spend the winter here start to arrive and summer visitors are leaving so there is plenty to see.

Take a walk around the entire lake or stroll down to one of the many bird hides and sit quietly to watch life out on the lake. Round off your visit with a drink in the cafe that overlooks the lake too.

Access: Gentle slopes, 90% surfaced paths, gates, benches. Some wheelchair access, including hides; two mobility Tramper vehicles are available to use - contact us on 01442 826774 or collegelake@bbowt.org.uk to book.

College Lake nature reserve

You can get a taster of College Lake in our virtual tour as Leo Keedy takes a walk around the site and explains how this old quarry has become one of the best places for water birds in Buckinghamshire.

Virtual tour of College Lake

We've also got a webcam overlooking the lake so you can see what's going on at any time.

College Lake webcam

Visit on Saturday 12 October and you'll find the plant and produce market organised by the Chilterns Group volunteers with plenty of goodies on offer.

Plant and produce market

Rushbeds Wood, Bucks

Most of the trees here were felled in the late 1940s, and only a handful of mature oaks remain. Today's 'wild wood' is a mixture of ash, field maple, aspen, hazel and oak along with blackthorn, hawthorn, spindle and a few old hornbeams. The woodland is damp and tussocky with a wide variety of sedges, grasses and rushes.

Follow the circular Wildlife Walk and look out for fungi on the woodland floor.

Access: Paths flat, soft after rain, some roots; kissing gates, bench

Rushbeds Wood

Nightjar nesting habitat at Snelsmore Common. Picture: Pete Hughes

Snelsmore Common, Berks

Snelsmore Common in West Berkshire is an interesting mix of woodland, heathland and wet mires which makes it home for lots of different wildlife.

Over 75% of the lowland heath like that at Snelsmore Common has been lost in the last 150 years and as a result many birds and other animals that live here are nationally very rare.

Print our crayon rubbing trail and take it with you when you visit to discover more about the special heathland wildlife here. A great activity for children to enjoy during half-term!

Access: The common is dissected by a number of valley mires so some paths are steep and uneven. A paved circular path 0.75 miles, the Easy Access Trail, is fully accessible by pushchairs and wheelchairs (RADAR key required to fully open gate).

Snelsmore Common

Sydlings Copse, Oxon

Tucked away to the north-east of Oxford, near Barton, Sydlings Copse is a treasure trove for wildlife enthusiasts all year round with lots of different habitats to explore.

During the autumn a profusion of fungi erupts from the woodland floor, as well as the limestone grassland. Trees and shrubs are laden with berries and leaves are turning to shades of gold, orange and bronze.

Access Sloping; flat sections, steep slopes, soft patches; kissing gate, steps. Not suitable for pushchairs.

Sydlings Copse

An avenue of trees at Warburg Nature Reserve by John Kearns - runner-up in the landscape category in the BBOWT Photography Competition 2022.

Warburg Nature Reserve, Oxon

This nature reserve nestled in the Chilterns is great to get away from it all. Filled with autumn colour from the beechwoods and fungi, there's plenty to discover as you explore.

Follow the circular Wildlife Walk for a short exploration of the reserve or follow the many paths to discover more.

Access: Variable, mostly steep paths and loose flint, flat grassy path; muddy in valley bottom after rain; benches.

A mobility Tramper vehicle may be available to borrow, please email hughweldon@bbowt.org.uk or call 07541 690655 before visiting to book in advance.

Warburg Nature Reserve

Please make sure to leave any fungi in place on our nature reserves for others to enjoy another time.