The Nature Discovery Centre
The Nature Discovery Centre
Welcome to The Nature Discovery centre, a visitor centre with beautiful lakes that adjoins Thatcham Reedbeds SSSI nature reserve. Children can explore Cold Ash stream, follow a lakeside walk and enjoy close up experiences with many species of resident and migrating birds. Pond dip in the Dipping Pond and explore Butterfly Lake, the woodland, meadow and orchard to discover and learn about a range of habitats. Then let off steam in our adventure playgrounds!
Explore the interactive wildlife games and learn about the local wildlife and natural history of the lake and reedbeds through our amazing displays. Fish tanks let you see what lives in the lake.
(Photo credit: Rob Applebury)
The Nature Discovery Centre runs a programme of events throughout the year such as Wildlife Explorer Days where you can learn bush skills, reptile days, bird box making, arts and crafts to name but a few. We also run events for adults such as gardening master classes.
Schools Visits
Our environmental education centres offer great opportunities for children and adults to learn about the natural world.
There has never been a more important time to take children outdoors to enjoy and reconnect with the natural world. Our education programmes take a ‘head, heart and hands’ approach to teaching knowledge and understanding of the connections, cycles and needs of life.
We provide high-quality indoor and outdoor resources, including varied teaching spaces, specialist science equipment and a diversity of habitats. Sessions are enjoyable, inspiring, exciting and fun.
A day with your local Wildlife Trust provides an unforgettable experience for all children and helps to consolidate learning done at school.
Our education centres are very popular, so early booking is always recommended.
Choose from one of our four centres:
College Lake Environmental Education Centre
Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre
Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre
Booking
Open year-round for pre-booked Primary school groups. Our schools' programme includes sessions for Early Years, KS1 and KS2 pupils. Choose from day-long sessions including: Dinky Discovery Day, Teddy Bears Woodland Adventure, Sensational Senses, Habitat Safri, Fantastic Plants and Water World. Wildlife Trust experts are also able to provide Outreach sessions at your school with our 'Go Wild at Your School' assemblies and workshops.