Discover nature when you need it most

Our reserves await you

We are delighted to be able to see you at our wonderful nature reserves across the UK. Despite everything that happened, the past year has proved to be a brilliant year for wildlife on RSPB nature reserves with many threatened species having a successful season. So much amazing nature and wildlife. More than 18,000 species at the latest count and we want you to enjoy all this with us.

But it’s a joint effort. We really couldn’t do what we do for nature without you, our members and supporters. It’s been a challenging time for all of us but thanks to your continued support, our work restoring, and reviving nature’s fortunes continues.

Thank you (and see you soon)

As government advice changes in your area, and may differ between UK countries, please check our individual nature reserve webpages prior to your visit.

Respect, Protect, Enjoy

We are looking forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to our reserves. If you are looking for a place to stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air and rediscover our natural world then why not plan a visit to your local reserve?

If you have never been to a nature reserve before, or would like to invite someone to visit for the first time then five simple steps could make all the difference in helping our wildlife as we ease out of lockdown and get back into the countryside.

We are thrilled to be welcoming new and familiar faces to our nature reserves. If you are looking for a place to stretch your legs, enjoy the fresh air and rediscover our natural world then why not plan a visit to an RSPB site?

These five simple steps will help you to respect, protect and enjoy the places you love most.

1. Stay Alert - any habitat can be a home for wildlife and many of our most vulnerable species are very good at hiding themselves in plain sight. Not all birds rest in trees. Beaches, verges, heaths, moors, fields and esturies can all be places that birds choose to roost, feed and survive the colder months. Many of the birds you see around our coasts, rivers and pools in the autumn and winter have flown thousands of miles from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to spend the winter months here. Some stop off like a service station, to re-fuel on their migration south.
2. Stick to paths and bridleways – the simplest way to give nature space is to keep to the spaces we usually use most, so please stay on the amazing network of designated trails, public footpaths and bridleways.
3. Keep dogs on leads in the open countryside – They might be people’s best friend but for vulnerable roosting or feeding birds, a dog bounding through them can pose a real threat, even if just having a sniff. Keeping your dog on a lead in the open countryside will help protect both wildlife and livestock.
4. Back away if you disturb a resting or feeding species. Short, sharp alarm calls, running off quickly, or taking flight are all signs that you’re too close. If you see any of this behaviour, you should back up the way you came to avoid any risk of scaring birds that are resting or feeding. Winter is the most risky time for these birds, some of which have lost half their body weight during migration. They need to feed, get in good condition and put on enough weight to survive the winter and make the migration back to their breeding grounds in spring. Unfortunately, birds are often unintentionally disturbed by human activity such as dog walking, drones, model airplanes and kites. The birds perceive these to be predators and so the effect of this disturbance is great. Frightening off birds does more than simply causing them to fly away; it uses up their energy reserves, decreasing their chance of survival. Once disturbed, birds take a long time to settle and remain alert afterwards.
5. Report bad behaviour – If you notice anything suspicious going on in your local countryside, such as evidence of wildlife crime, fly-tipping or uncontrolled fires, then please report this to your local wildlife crime officer using the police 101 number.

With some restrictions still in place, that may differ between UK countries, we also ask you to please scroll down and check the map for the latest information on what reserves and facilities are available. 

You may also meet our team away from our nature reserves as we return to face-to-face fundraising. This is an important way for us to talk to the public about wildlife, nature and the work of the RSPB . All of our face-to-face teams have been trained in how to keep the public safe, including the option of a contact free joining method for those wanting to support the RSPB’s work. We hope to see you out and about. 

The map below shows which RSPB nature reserves and facilities are open or closed at the moment.

You don’t currently need to pre-book your visit, but please be aware that some of our sites have limited car parking, so can quickly become full. Be mindful of this before you set off and consider visiting at a less busy time or having an alternative destination if needed when you get there.

Keeping everyone safe

We want to let you know how we are responding to the changing Covid-19 situation. Our priority is to keep you and our teams safe and ensure everyone has a comfortable and enjoyable experience. When you visit, you’ll notice we’ve made some changes. 
 
When it comes to which facilities are open on reserves, each site has been considered on an individual basis. We have looked at what it is possible to keep open across the UK, within the different country-specific Government guidance, the layout of facilities, and the staffing we have available to manage the site safely. 
 
We also take precautions to protect our special wildlife. 

Thank you

We are incredibly grateful for your continued support and patience. It really means a great deal to us. Our work on nature reserves and across the RSPB is only possible thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters like you.

We look forward to seeing you soon.