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Monday 7am - 7pm Tuesday 7am - 7pm Wednesday 7am - 7pm Thursday 7am - 7pm Friday 7am - 7pm Saturday 7am - 7pm Sunday 7am - 7pm

RSPB The Lodge

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RSPB The Lodge

Protecting and restoring habitats, saving species and helping
end the nature and climate emergency. Sand martins busy feeding young at Sandy Heath Quarry.

Welcome to the official page of RSPB The Lodge Nature Reserve and Gardens, as well as for Fowlmere Nature Reserve! The Lodge

Whether you are after a family adventure or a solitary meander, The Lodge is the perfect day out for all; exploring ancient sea-beds, walking over an iron-age fort, listening out for the drumming of woodpeckers and watching the Greylag Geese laze about in the Garde

ns. The Lodge boasts woodland, heath and acid grassland that cover an area of some 220 hectares, and now form the largest stretch of heathland in Bedfordshire. Between December and January, our farmland areas come alive with hundreds of hungry finches among the wildbird crops. Winter thrushes feed on the acid grassland from January - March, and you can see woodland snowdrops, daffodils, then bluebells. The gardens are most colourful from May, with flowering of the rhododendrom / Azalea collection and start of the roses. Summer sees breeding and hunting hobbies over the heath, and the heather flowering in August. In a warm damp autumn you can experience some of the 600 species of fungi. Summer has dragonflies and butterflies around the ponds and heath with hobbies hunting the dragonflies. Newly-fledged birds - blue and great t**s in the woodland and green woodpeckers on the heathland. Common lizards bask with their young on dead logs. August is a great time to see the heather turn purple. Fowlmere

Fowlmere Nature Reserve is a well-loved wildlife oasis set within farmland. Its former water-cress beds are now reedbed, fen, chalk grassland and scrub, water rail and barn owl and winter roosts of reed bunting. Bearded t**s and bitterns are found occasionally in winter, and otters and water voles are regularly seen. The reserve holds a small but fine example of a chalk stream, one of the UK’s rarest habitats. In spring and summer, you can hear a wide variety of warblers singing, while little grebes and lapwings can be seen on the mere. Orchids flower in the meadows and barn owl chicks can be seen peeping from specially provided nest boxes. Large flocks of winter thrushes forage on the berry bushes in some years. It's possible to see water voles and occasionally otters! Autumn and winter are good times to see flocks of finches, buntings, thrushes and starlings roosting or feeding in the scrub, and catch a glimpse of a kingfisher and occasionally bittern or bearded tit. Brown trout breed in the chalk stream (River Shep).

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

Recap of August (notable) sightings at The Lodge.

The star of the show ended up being the Honey Buzzard seen on both the 30th and the 31st.

More to come as autumn migration keeps going.

Also, get your magnifying lenses ready, because fungi are starting to pop up all over the reserve (remember, please, to not pick them up).

31/08/2026

Develop your confidence at spotting and identifying birds and learn about the little gem that RSPB Fowlmere is.

A 2 hours walk around the reserve with our passionate volunteers, making the most of the autumn birding and learning interesting facts about the history of the site.

For info & tickets 👇

Develop your confidence at spotting and identifying birds and learn about the little gem that RSPB Fowlmere is.

30/08/2026

You never know what you might bump into on your way to work! 😮

A Juvenile Honey Buzzard went past The Lodge this morning, seen by staff member Viviana, close to the Gatehouse.

27/08/2026

There are only a few spots left on our Birdwatching for Beginners session on Saturday 5th September, here at The Lodge. 🐦

Book your ticket at 👇
https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/165914

Enjoy a walk around the reserve with the help of our knowledgeable volunteers, and see what Autumn brings from the sky.

(All pics by Rob Gilmore)

20/08/2026

Experience The Lodge in a whole new light on these guided evening walks through the reserve. ✨

Dusk is one of the best times to encounter some of nocturnal creatures and see what glows in the dark with the use of UV torches.

Two dates available: Saturday 26th September and Saturday 24th October.

For more info & to book tickets, visit 👇

Join us for an enchanting evening as we explore The Lodge on a Dusk Walk. Experience The Lodge in a whole new light on this guided walk after sunset.

16/08/2026

When they say "RSPB giving Nature a home" and you find a Stock Dove nesting at The Gatehouse. 🤭

12/08/2026

Solar eclipse timelapse taken from our New Heath (pics in the comments). ✨

Were you able to see it too? 🌑

(Video by staff member Viviana)

11/08/2026

Temperatures will rise again until Friday, so look after yourself when visiting the reserve and bring plenty of water and sun protection with you.

We got plenty of cold drinks and ice-creams to bring you some relief and our Cafe is fully air-conditioned.

Remember that no fires are allowed on the reserve and if you spot any, dial 999 and alert a member of our team if it's safe to do so. 🙏

UK wildfires are becoming more common. Find out the causes, the devastating effects, and how your actions can help prevent wildfires before they start

Address

Potton Road
Sandy
SG192DL

Opening Hours

Monday	7am - 7pm
Tuesday	7am - 7pm
Wednesday	7am - 7pm
Thursday	7am - 7pm
Friday	7am - 7pm
Saturday	7am - 7pm
Sunday	7am - 7pm

Website

http://www.rspb.org.uk/TheLodge

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