Nature Discovery Centre

The Nature Discovery Centre offers a great day out for all the family

The Nature Discovery Centre is packed full of interactive wildlife and natural history displays. There is a network of footpaths ranging from small family-friendly walks to longer paths for the more adventurous. Surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats, there is fantastic wildlife to see all year around.

Facilities include:

• Lakeside café offering delicious hot and cold refreshments
• Adventure Playgrounds
• Gift shop with a great range of wildlife themed gifts, toys and books
• Picnic facilities
• Toilets, disabled toilets and baby changing
• Signposted walk routes and seasonal Wildlife Discovery Trail
• Thatcham Community Orchard

Where to find us

We are located between Thatcham and Newbury, a short distance off the A4 at:

Nature Discovery Centre, Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 3FU

Find us on GoogleMaps

Tel: 01635 874381

Email: ndc@bbowt.org.uk

Opening times

The Nature Discovery Centre is now open Wednesday - Sunday, 10am-4pm. This includes the cafe (takeaway only), shop and outside toilets.

Get the most from your visit

Access

The centre, cafe and toilets are wheelchair accessible. The Red Trail around the lake is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Walking information

Gentle slopes, gates, benches, unsurfaced paths may become muddy in wet weather. There are trails suitable for all abilities. 

Birds at the Nature Discovery Centre

Throughout the year, one of our volunteers surveys the species of bird found on site. Below is a list showing the trend of different species and numbers of each throughout the year. 

Nature Discovery Centre bird list - 2021

Our volunteer also leads regular walks around the reserve to help visitors learn about what they can see and hear during their visit, and to learn more about each species. Visit our events page to find details of all our bird walks.