Watchtree Nature Reserve

Watchtree Nature Reserve A place to enjoy wildlife, walking, cycling, orienteering, learning and being outdoors.
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Watchtree is a haven for wildlife, maintained and developed by a team of dedicated volunteers. Our aims are:

To maintain, monitor and develop the habitats which have been created to provide a haven for wildlife, especially species that are in decline locally or nationally. To provide managed access to the Nature Reserve for groups and individuals....

To develop the use of the Nature Reserve for education and research. To Promote and encourage access for the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged.

Come along for a heartwarming evening of great food, live choir music, and wonderful company!Zing! Autumn Celebration 20...
07/09/2026

Come along for a heartwarming evening of great food, live choir music, and wonderful company!

Zing! Autumn Celebration 2026

Date: Saturday, 10th October 2026

Location: Kirkbampton Village Hall

Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM | Food served at 7:00 PM

Tickets: Adults £15 | Kids £12 (20% discount for members)

Highlights: Pie, peas & gravy, 2 live sets from Zing Pop Choir, licensed bar, and a raffle!

£5 from every ticket sale goes directly to support Watchtree Nature Reserve, with remaining proceeds funding future community projects.

Please note: This event is pre-book only! Secure your spot today at www.watchtree.co.uk/events or scan the QR code on the poster.

It’s a week of big milestones at our plant nursery! We are officially setting up shop in our new polytunnel, giving our ...
07/09/2026

It’s a week of big milestones at our plant nursery!

We are officially setting up shop in our new polytunnel, giving our growing collection of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and vegetables the space they need to flourish.

Nature has certainly been generous! Our pumpkins have turned into absolute monsters, and our team has started harvesting fresh seed to pave the way for next year’s crops.

Community is at the heart of everything we grow. If you’d like to volunteer or get involved in our upcoming growing projects, we’d love to hear from you!

Email: [email protected]

What a milestone for Watchtree! Our final release day brought the grand total to 290 Harvest Mice reintroduced to the re...
06/09/2026

What a milestone for Watchtree!
Our final release day brought the grand total to 290 Harvest Mice reintroduced to the reserve.

A massive thank you to everyone involved in the Cumbria Harvest Mice Project for helping restore these wonderful creatures to our landscape.

Want to see how the project unfolded behind the scenes?

Watch the mini-documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie5umunSzw4

Our recent nature ramble treated attendees to some incredible wildlife encounters!From the Lake Hide, we watched in awe ...
05/09/2026

Our recent nature ramble treated attendees to some incredible wildlife encounters!

From the Lake Hide, we watched in awe as a Kestrel hovered effortlessly against the sky. Stepping out of the hide, we were greeted by a rare sight, an entire Roe Deer family party, including a buck, a doe, and three spotty fawns. To top off a brilliant evening, a Barn Owl glided silently around the Watchtower on its evening hunt.

Can you spot this master of camouflage resting in the grass?While the upper wings of the Painted Lady feature a vibrant ...
04/09/2026

Can you spot this master of camouflage resting in the grass?

While the upper wings of the Painted Lady feature a vibrant orange and black pattern, the delicate underwings tell a completely different story, reminiscent of an intricate stained glass window. These endurance flyers are famous long-distance migrants, embarking on extraordinary journeys across the English Channel that create some of the most breathtaking butterfly migrations in Britain.

What a summer it has been at Watchtree!A huge, heartfelt thank you to every parent, grandparent, carer, and little one w...
03/09/2026

What a summer it has been at Watchtree!

A huge, heartfelt thank you to every parent, grandparent, carer, and little one who joined us for our Watchtree Parents Walk over the summer holidays. Seeing so many returning faces and welcoming new families to our walks made the sunny (and occasional rainy!) mornings extra special.

Now that the school run is back and the September routine is settling in, our weekly walks are easing right into that term time flow. Whether you are looking for a gentle post drop off stroll, a reason to get out into the fresh air, or just a warm cup of coffee and a friendly chat with people who get it, we are here for you.

Join Us This Term:
When: Every Tuesday at 9:30 am & every Friday at 9:30 am

Where: Meet outside the Watchtree Visitor Centre

The Route: Completely pram friendly and set at a relaxed pace

Booking: Never needed — simply turn up whenever fits your morning!

No pressure, no pace to keep up with just good company and beautiful views as we step into autumn together. We cannot wait to see you on the trails!

Supported by David Allen Financial Services.

Huge thanks to Balfour Beatty and their amazing volunteers for tackling major site upgrades at Watchtree! In memory of G...
02/09/2026

Huge thanks to Balfour Beatty and their amazing volunteers for tackling major site upgrades at Watchtree!

In memory of Grant Taylor ('GT22'), the team resurfaced paths for wheelchair access, spruced up our Education Zone, prepped tree tubes for recycling, and built spooky props for our Halloween trail.

Read the full story & see more photos on our website
https://watchtree.co.uk/balfour-beatty-day-2026/

It feels like continuous summer heat is already becoming a memory, but back at the start of the summer holidays, we had ...
02/09/2026

It feels like continuous summer heat is already becoming a memory, but back at the start of the summer holidays, we had a brilliant time pond dipping here at Watchtree!

Our resident water beetle expert, Steven Routledge, led an fantastic experience on the boardwalk. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and over 30 eager explorers joined in to get stuck in, grab a net, and discover all the hidden wildlife thriving in our pond.

Even with the water levels on the lower side, there was still so much life to find—including some remarkable water beetles and newts!

A huge thank you to Steven for sharing his expert knowledge and leading such engaging sessions throughout 2026.

Our pond dipping sessions are wrapped up for this year, but we're already looking forward to getting the nets back out next year!

The September photo, titled "Mute Swans," is our next photo of our 2026 Calendar.Captured and generously donated by the ...
01/09/2026

The September photo, titled "Mute Swans," is our next photo of our 2026 Calendar.
Captured and generously donated by the talented Senga Grave.

With special thanks to our sponsors of the year:

M & B Motor Body Repairs (https://www.carbodyrepairscarlisle.co.uk)
RC Civils Ltd
Crumbs of Dalston/Denton Holme
Wigton Baths Trust

Another lovely poem written by Douglas Mac Donnald 🥰
28/08/2026

Another lovely poem written by Douglas Mac Donnald 🥰

Address

Watchtree Nature Reserve, Nr Wiggonby
Carlisle
CA56NL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:45pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:45pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:45pm
Thursday 9am - 4:45pm
Friday 9am - 4:45pm
Saturday 9am - 4:45pm
Sunday 9am - 4:45pm

Telephone

+441228712539

Website

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