Bowdown Woods, Berks

Autumn is a colourful time at Bowdown Woods, which contains woodland, grassland and heathland. Leaves turn to shades of gold and brightly coloured fungi push their way to the earth's surface. Follow our circular wildlife walks around each part of the reserve to discover more.

On Sunday 23 October, join Wildlife Trust Land Manager, Roger Stace for a gentle walk of about 2.5 miles around this nature reserve to see its stunning autumn colours and learn more about this site.

Explore Bowdown Woods and nearby Greenham Common on our circular West Berks Wild Walk.

Bowdown Woods nature reserve

Guided walk: Bowdown Woods Autumn Wildlife Walk

West Berks Wild Walk

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 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.

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.

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

College Lake nature reserve

Virtual tour of College Lake

College Lake webcam

Dancersend with Pavis Woods, Bucks

Dancersend is wonderful all through the year. Autumn brings a large number of fungi, including fly agaric and the amazing collared earthstar whose outer layer splits and folds backward into a star-shaped pattern.

Join volunteer warden Mick Jones on Sunday 16 October to explore the changes taking place as another year draws to a close and Dancersend moves towards the end of its 80th year. Learn how this nature reserve is so important for nature conservation in the UK and see what seasonal wildlife you can spot.

Our Tring Park Wild Walk is a circular walk from Tring that includes Dancersend and a section of the Ridgeway National Trail. 

Dancersend

Guided walk: Moving into Autumn at Dancersend

Tring Park Wild Walk

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. Work to restore the heathland at Snelsmore Common involves a combination of tree and bracken removal, and livestock grazing.

On Sunday 23 October, join Peter Creed for a guide walk looking for fungi in the heathland and woodland at the reserve.

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!

Sneslmore Common

Guided walk: Fungus foray at 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.

Sydlings Copse

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.

On Sunday 9 October, join Peter Creed to see some the many fungi to be found in the beechwoods on this fungus-rich nature reserve.

Warburg Nature Reserve

Guided walk: Fungus Foray at Warburg Nature Reserve

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

What's on this month