Withymead Nature Reserve

15/06/2026

Following on from last week's post about the nation's favourite butterfly, please enjoy these peacock butterfly caterpillars feasting on a patch of nettles at the weekend.

13/06/2026

We're having a great time at the The Gap Festival Wonders of the Natural World family day at Rectory Gardens in Goring today. Find us in the nature zone. See if you can match the egg to the bird in our egg ID game, and find out more about our boatbuilding heritage, and how we manage Withymead and Little Meadow too.

12/06/2026

"Peacock butterfly voted the nation's favourite butterfly" in a people's vote organised by the wonderful Butterfly Conservation trust. Glorious! Sometimes people ask us why we have a lot of nettles at Withymead. Well, peacock butterflies lay their eggs on nettles, and when the caterpillars hatch the plants provide their food, until they pupate and emerge as butterflies in July and August. We love being a nursery to the natural world!

09/06/2026

We are looking forward to being a part of The Gap Festival's Family Day this coming Saturday, 13 June 2026 at Rectory Gardens in Goring-on-Thames. It's a great celebration of the wonders of the natural world! Visit us at our info stand and find out more about how we look after nature at Withymead, but also about how we look after Little Meadow, south of Goring as you head towards Pangbourne on the Thames Path National Trail.

Saturday 13th is Family Day! A festival within the festival, with more than 40 FREE activities and refreshments available throughout the day. Gates open 9.30am, main stage talks begin at 10am. Start planning your day, full details at

🔗www.thegapfestival.org/news/family-day-the-wonders-of-the-natural-world/

🧪Why not enhance your experience by booking tickets for the Science Live! show with The Royal Institution (of BBC Christmas Lectures acclaim!) £5

🤖 Plus there are ONLY 5 SPACES left on the Discover Robotics and Coding Using LEGO® Bricks workshop at 3pm. £10.

ESA - European Space Agency University of Reading The Living Rainforest Beale Wildlife Park Simon Booker Berkshire reptile encounters Withymead Nature Reserve Mend the Gap Good Food Oxfordshire AwesomeBooks Yoga & Wellbeing with Emma James Carter The Miller of Mansfield Truly Scrumptious Bakery Sole Luna Pizza Jessies Coffee Truck

07/06/2026

Events | Citizen Science Sunday TODAY 10am - 1pm (reserve open 10am - 5pm)
Join us and the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre for a special morning to chat about Mend the Gap's Signature Trees project. You'll learn tips on identifying signature tree species at Withymead, such as our native black poplar. There's a tour with our warden, a chance to look at herbarium specimens and planted trees and an opportunity for you to join in with mapping and recording the tree planting that’s been happening in the area. Ideal for those wishing to learn something new, further their skills or who are already confident in tree IDs.
Please note that to protect wildlife and habitats in the reserve, dogs (other than assistance dogs) are not permitted. Entry to the reserve is free but donations are more than welcome. See you later!
Image credits | Pete Morton, David Hawgood CC AS A 2.0 See less

06/06/2026

Events | Citizen Science Sunday 7 June 10am - 1pm (reserve open 10am - 5pm)
The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre are joining us for a special morning to chat about Mend the Gap's Signature Trees project. Discover tips on identifying signature tree species at Withymead, such as our native black poplar. The morning includes a tour with our warden, a chance to look at herbarium specimens and planted trees and an opportunity for you to join in with mapping and recording the tree planting that’s been happening in the area.

Please note that to protect wildlife and habitats in the reserve, dogs (other than assistance dogs) are not permitted. Entry to the reserve is free but donations are more than welcome. See you Sunday!

Image credits | Pete Morton, David Hawgood CC AS A 2.0

05/06/2026

Events | Citizen Science Sunday 7 June 10am - 1pm (reserve open 10am - 5pm)
Join us and Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre for a super special morning to chat about Mend the Gap's Signature Trees project. Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre will provide tips on identifying the signature species at Withymead, such as our native black poplar. The morning includes a tour with the warden, a chance to look at herbarium specimens and planted trees and an opportunity for people to join in with mapping and recording the tree planting that’s been happening in the area.

Please note that to protect wildlife and habitats in the reserve, dogs (other than assistance dogs) are not permitted. Entry to the reserve is free but donations are more than welcome. See you Sunday!

31/05/2026

Events | TODAY 31 May 10am-5pm Activity day with author & illustrator Emma Shoard PLUS it’s Cream Tea Sunday 2pm-5pm
It's a bumper one! Join us to find out more about the amazing river wildlife around Goring and learn how to create beautiful animal illustrations using colour and collage with Emma Shoard, illustrator and author of the wonderful ‘Life on the Thames’ children’s book. Create and decorate a butterfly or dragonfly (collage and drawing) or make a little house for your caddisfly (collage). The activities are suitable for ages 5+, and children must be accompanied by an adult. It’s a Cream Tea Sunday too – so there will be plenty of scones, jam and cream, cakes and refreshments to enjoy.

28/05/2026

Events | Sunday 31 May 10am-5pm Activity day with author & illustrator Emma Shoard PLUS it’s Cream Tea Sunday 2pm-5pm
It's a bumper one! Join us to find out more about the amazing river wildlife around Goring and learn how to create beautiful animal illustrations using colour and collage with Emma Shoard, illustrator and author of the wonderful ‘Life on the Thames’ children’s book. Create and decorate a butterfly or dragonfly (collage and drawing) or make a little house for your caddisfly (collage). The activities are suitable for ages 5+, and children must be accompanied by an adult. It’s a Cream Tea Sunday too – so there will be plenty of scones, jam and cream, cakes and refreshments to enjoy.

03/05/2026

Events | Citizen Science Sunday, 10am - 1pm TODAY Sun 3 May
Help! Our warden has forgotten what species are on the reserve!
Join him at 10.30am to help refresh his - and your - memory on how to use the iRecord App, and go on a guided walk recording what you can find on the reserve.
The reserve is open 10am - 5pm, and we recommend downloading the iRecord App on your smartphone before arriving.
Make the most of your visit by bringing a picnic and refreshments. We have wonderful places to sit, as well as our waterfront deck, tree log seating, and hides for quiet watching and waiting for wildlife to appear.

Image credits | Orange tip butterfly: Walter Baxter CC A-S A 2.0, cuckoo flower: Pete Morton