Changes at RSPB Radipole and Lodmoor

Published: 16 Dec 2025
Topic: Radipole and Lodmoor

Last year the RSPB reviewed its operations across the UK so that everything we do aligns to our charitable and strategic aims and delivers the most impact for nature with the resource we have.   

We looked at all our nature reserves, including RSPB Radipole and Lodmoor, to identify improvements and efficiencies as our nature reserves, and what we deliver for nature on them, make up the largest proportion of our financial spend each year.

We recognise that RSPB Radipole and Lodmoor have a special place in the hearts of many, and the RSPB will continue to manage both reserves and they will remain open to the public. However, we need to focus our resources where they can have the most impact. This means that at Radipole and Lodmoor, we are focusing on maintaining and improving the habitats for wildlife and making some changes to the way we manage both reserves’ visitor infrastructure. 

This will include the removal of a set of platforms at Radipole this winter, which have reached the end of their safe working life. While key paths will be maintained, we will no longer be maintaining all the paths and sight lines ourselves, to save on the significant staff and volunteer time needed to cut back the vegetation. However we are looking at how we might support our volunteers or a local “Friends of” group who can take on responsibility for some path maintenance.

We have also invested in the sites over the last 12 months, including replacing the visitor footbridge at Radipole, installing a new water control structure at Lodmoor, carrying out channel clearance at Radipole, reed cutting at both reserves as well as exploring the feasibility of restoring Radipole Lake. Encouragingly, our 2024 full reserve survey recorded record numbers of Cettis Warblers (the second highest for any RSPB reserve) and Bearded Tits across both reserves.

We are not scaling back or limiting our ambition to fight for nature and wildlife. Our nature reserves are fundamental to who we are and what we do. Our long-term aim is simply to focus on what we do best and where we can do this most effectively, and we’re continuing to grow the area of land that we manage and conserve for nature year on year. 

It is thanks to the generosity of our members, volunteers, supporters, partners and funders that the RSPB is the UK’s leading charity for nature conservation.  For this to continue for years to come, we must be even more focused on where this generous support can have the biggest impact.