Wildlife Discovery Centre

In the Discovery Room learn about the habitats and species around you as well as birds that visit the park. Listen to the sounds of wildlife that you can find in the park and learn about some of the history of the valley. Peek in our wildlife drawers to see what has been found around the park. Our wildlife cameras will bring live footage of what the local critters are up to and you can view them close up going about their daily lives. Relax and have a drink whilst looking out of the vast windows over the reedbed. Kids can play the migration game or draw some of the wildlife that can be seen and take their drawings home.

Take a seat in the hide and see what you can spot amongst the reeds. In the winter, you might be lucky enough to spot our wintering Bittern or a Smew on the water. In the summer, check the Kingfisher breeding bank or watch out for the bright blue of one flashing past the hide. Reed Warblers and Bunting may be singing from the reeds or the explosive sound of Cetti's Warbler might fill the hide with its song. During the breeding season the hide is filled with the raucous sound of the gull and Common Tern colony which can be a lively spectacle to watch.

The jewel in its crown is the tower which gives you an amazing view over Seventy Acres Lake and the living roof which will be bursting with flora and fauna in the summer when the plants flower and attract a host of wildlife. The whole building has been designed for wildlife and check out the insect bricks in the gabion wall or spot the bird and bat boxes on the building.