Discover nature when you need it most

Hand sanitiser is available on some reserves, but we advise you to bring your own too.

We ask that all visitors to our reserves in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales wear a face covering, unless exempt from doing so, while in RSPB visitor centres, shops, hides, cafes and toilets.

In line with Government recommendations in England, we ask that all visitors, unless exempt, please continue to wear a face covering in our indoor spaces including hides on England’s nature reserves. Our teams will be doing the same.

Thank you for your co-operation to help keep everyone safe.

Please adhere to all guidance on social distancing both indoors and outdoors on our nature reserves, in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Although under Government guidance for England, there is no longer a legal social distancing requirement, we encourage our visitors to follow government recommendations and limit close contact with those you do not usually live with. We are therefore asking that all visitors please continue to be mindful of other people’s space, particularly indoors and on narrow sections of our paths.

On several sites, we have introduced one-way systems or created more passing places along our trails where necessary to allow for social/physical distancing. Please follow the signage in place.

For nature reserves in England, there is now no legal obligation to provide details via Test and Trace. However, on our nature reserves where we charge for entry and those where we sell refreshments that can be consumed on-site, we will continue to display the QR code and have pen and paper registration available for visitors to use on arrival.

In Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland where we charge for entry, and those reserves where we sell refreshments that are consumed on-site, you will be asked to check-in to the national Test and Trace app. In situations where it is not possible to use the app, our welcome teams will ask you to provide some basic written details instead.

This is to enable national NHS Test and Trace systems to get in touch should they need to. It also now means that if you feel unable or unwilling to check-in with the app or provide written details, we may, unfortunately, have to refuse entry or service as a result.

We are following strict data protection guidelines so your personal details will be held securely and confidentially by us in accordance with the country data protection requirements.

We will only release the data to the relevant country NHS if absolutely necessary, will not use it for any other purpose and will securely destroy it after 21 days as required.

Thank you for following this legal requirement and helping to keep everyone safe.

For further Government information, see England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland.

Toilets are open on many of our nature reserves and we have implemented enhanced cleaning regimes. Where it isn’t possible to have our toilets open, this may be due to country-specific or local restrictions, the layout of our facilities, or the staffing we have available to manage them safely. Please see the map below for facilities available at individual reserves.

The majority of our hides are open for your visit. Where it isn’t possible for a hide to be open, this can be due to the size of the hide or the routes to it not allowing for social distancing, or limited staffing available to manage them safely.

When using our hides, so that you and others can safely enjoy your experience, we ask that all visitors, except those who are exempt from doing so, please wear a face-covering when inside. We may also have had to fix hide windows open or closed to reduce the number of touchpoints.

You'll spot that we've got maximum numbers signposted at the entrance to some hides too; please adhere to these and consider the amount of time you dwell in hides on busy days, to allow everyone the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful wildlife in safety.

Please use hand sanitiser where provided, observe social/physical distancing, and follow all signage in the hide.

In line with UK government guidelines, our cafes are open for take-away options in Scotland and Wales. In England indoor seating is also now available, with some socially distanced seating should you wish to distance from others.

Please see the map below for facilities available at individual reserves.

You’re welcome to bring a picnic along with you.

In England, please be mindful of other people’s space.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland please follow the country Government’s guidelines and follow social distancing when using our picnic benches and other seating. Please take litter home with you.

BBQs are a fire risk, endangering others and wildlife. They are not permitted on our nature reserves in England, Wales or Northern Ireland at any time.

In Scotland, we ask that you refer to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and the relevant National Park Authority guidelines when considering lighting a fire or a stove on a reserve. Never light an open fire during prolonged dry periods or in areas such as forests, woods, farmland or on peaty ground and follow all advice at times of high risk.

Many of our nature reserves are operating their normal opening hours. However, staffing shortages or other factors may mean that sometimes these differ.

Please see the map below for the opening times of individual sites or visit the individual reserve website.

Access to sites or facilities located within areas subject to additional country or local area restrictions may be reduced or closed to comply with specific laws or guidance. Rules may be different in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and between areas.

Under country or local restrictions, face coverings, group sizes, social/physical distancing and other requirements may differ from site to site, even within the same country. Please check individual site information for additional restrictions that may apply before planning a visit.