Bittern

With woodland, reedbeds, grassland, heathland and the wild coast to explore, you can easily spend a whole day at Minsmere. Enjoy family time pond dipping or den building in the woods. Visit the shop and enjoy delicious food on our café terrace immersed in the tranquillity of nature.

Escape to the quiet lakes and pools of Cors Ddyga, where Bitterns boom and Lapwings forage. Tread the footpaths and watch birds of prey circle the skies, or visit at dusk to watch Starling murmurations.

This reserve proves wonderful things happen when we work together for nature – come to this former quarry to witness wetland wildlife in all its glory.

Explore this former open cast coal mine and see how nature has reclaimed this industrial landscape. Join us for an event – how about staying out until after dark to see what night-time wildlife we can find?

This is a land where Bitterns sneak through reedbeds, orchids bejewel meadows and in summer, the Cuckoo calls reverberate through woodlands.

Hear the reeds rustling in the breeze as you walk around the largest reedbed in north-west England. Will you spot an Otter, marvel at a Marsh Harrier or revel at a Red Deer? Recharge with coffee and cake in the cafe, and some retail therapy in the shop.

Once a stretch of farmland, this wetland reserve is now a rich mix of reedbeds, marshes and woodlands where Kingfishers and Otters thrive.

Chase a butterfly in our meadow blooming with wildflowers, watch for the blue flash of a Kingfisher or borrow a pond dipping kit to see what creatures lurk beneath.

Your walk to the sea and a vast sandy beach takes you past freshwater and saltwater lagoons, each attracting different birds. Join us for a guided walk to make the most of your experience here.

Step into this paradise for wetland birds and discover booming Bitterns and brightly-coloured Kingfishers.

Dingle Marshes is a rich patchwork of habitats where Marsh Harriers sky dance and Bitterns boom.

Come and explore the wonderful Fairburn Ings and discover a landscape shaped by coal mining, now enjoying a second life as a haven for wildlife.

Redbeed rules at Blacktoft and with it comes a wonderful array of waders, wildfowl and birds of prey that swoop overhead.

Watch Hobbies performing their acrobatic displays over the nature reserve as they try to catch dragonflies. Bring a picnic and discover which other insects are feasting on the wildflowers in the meadow.

Grab your wellies to adventure through these noisy wetlands. With each step, you'll notice new habitats and sounds. From Tufted Ducks to Gadwalls and Grebes: you'll find that these reed-fringed lakes are always packed with life.