The Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre

An ideal place for a short walk through ponds, reedbeds, meadows and trees, with plenty of wildlife and fen heritage to explore.

The Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre is a wonderful place to explore the inter-connected worlds of plants, animals and fenland heritage. The indoor centre, open during events and office hours (usually Monday-Friday, 8.30-4.30pm) is a converted Victorian brickworks, with the fascinating brick kiln still visible through windows. You can touch and feel many of the ancient fen and wildlife finds on display. The surrounding nature reserve is free to visit at any time, throughout the year.

We offer a wide range of group visits at the centre, including interactive school and education programmes, youth activities, guided walks, sensory experiences, and memory box/ reminiscence visits. Take a look at the education services and community services pages for more details. The centre is also available for hire - please contact us for more details.

Species and habitats

There is a surprising variety of wildlife on this relatively small 9-acre nature reserve.

• Listen out for the calls of birds: the honk of a Moorhen, the plaintive melody of a Robin, or a Great Tit calling 'Teacher, teacher'. You might hear woodpeckers drumming, or see a hunting owl in the early evening.
• Look out for colourful butterflies and moths: for example, you could see a caterpillar striped black and yellow like a bee, feeding on Ragwort, a plant with bright yellow flowers. These caterpillars will become blue and red Cinnebar Moths and just as beautiful as butterflies.
• Hear deer barking: - small Muntjac deer can be found on the nature reserve. They make a barking sound, almost like a dog. As you walk along the long drain, look out for their tracks going down the banks and through the bushes.

See also Wildlife Sightings for recent birds, animals and plants at the Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre.

Explore on a trail

There is a waymarked discovery trail through the reserve: see the map page for more information. You can also download a trail guide to learn more about the heritage of this site and an audio trail for families to learn about the wildlife and heritage of the site. See the downloads page for more details. Please be aware paths can be muddy and uneven, however there are lots of benches and no gates or stiles around the reserve. All-terrain wheelchairs, which are free to hire, can be used around this site. Please contact us for more information or to book.

History highlights

There is much fenland heritage to explore at the Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre. Peer through windows outside and in the centre to see the four trenches of the old Victorian brick kiln. You can also pick up a memories booklet, album or DVD to hear stories from local people, and find out how farming has changed dramatically or how a little girl escaped to the fens during the war.

Other Great Fen reserves to visit nearby

Woodwalton Fen

Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve is just down the road from the Countryside Centre. Take a look at the visit Woodwalton Fen page for more information.

Great Fen Information Point (New Decoy Farm)

This reserve opened in March 2013 and is alongside the B660 road. There are maps and information about the Great Fen and you can walk around some of the previously cultivated fields that are now being restored. Details are here

Holme Fen

Take a look at the visit Holme Fen page for more details of the National Nature Reserve.

Middle and Darlow's Farms

Take a look at the Darlow's Farm and Middle Farm page for more details.

More information

The Wildlife Trust Countryside Centre is supported by BGL Group and the Holmewood Estate Project. Please see Funded Projects for more information.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Great Fen team for any other information.