Click Thumbnails to Enlarge
Ranked 1 of 2 facilties in ranked in Bedfordshire
Wow factor
Accessibility
Photo potential
The Lodge
| Directions: |
From Sandy town centre, take the B1042 Potton road, passing the railway station and cemetery on your right. After 1.2 miles (1.75 km), at the top of the hill, turn right into the RSPB marked entrance. The visitor reception and reserve shop are in the Gatehouse by the entrance and the visitor car park is a further 30 metres on the left. The nearest railway station is in Sandy, on the Kings Cross to Peterborough main line, 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from the reserve entrance. The nearest bus stop is in Sandy town centre (for buses from Bedford). Grid reference TL191485 |
| Accessibility: |
The reserve is open from 9 am-9 pm (or sunset when earlier). There are a number of paths of varying lengths and surfaces throughout the reserve; the terrain is steeply undulating in places. The path to the formal gardens has firm soil and some paved sections. There are a number of benches throughout the nature reserve. There are steps throughout the reserve. Other paths through the reserve are narrow and steep in places. The hide is 500 m from main car park; special needs visitors may drive to parking bays 45 m from hide; eight adapted places giving views over the pools and birdfeeders. |
| Costs: |
Non-members £2.50 per motor vehicle, members free. |
| Best time to visit: |
Spring and Autumn |
Venue information
This reserve is a mixture of woodland, heathland and acid grassland and includes the formal gardens of the RSPB's UK headquarters. In Spring, woodpeckers may be found drumming and calling in the trees, songbirds setting up breeding territories, snowdrops and bluebells on the woodland floor and azaleas and rhododendrons in flower in the headquarters' gardens. As summer arrives dragonflies and butterflies can be found around the ponds and heath, with hobbies hunting the dragonflies. Autumn brings purple heather blooming on the heath, migrating birds such as swallows and birds of prey are often seen over the heath. For macro photographers, there are fungi on the woodland floor, while the wonderful colours of silver birches and oaks before the leaves fall make for great autumnal images.
Venue verdict: Without a huge telephoto lens, the birds are often too far away for meaningful images, but there is a good opportunity to get pictures of some of the larger bird species from the hide.
Ratings: 2
-
This isn't really a place to get close to birds. There are opportunities to do this on occasion (there is a robin that has been known to go in the shop!) but the main house, grounds and surrounding reserve will produce some great results.
(Written by: StuartGeeves)
23 February 2009 19:51
-
I was very disappointed with this site on my last and only visit to the HQ of the RSPB.
It was not easy to find, and once there it lacked basic facilities. There was nice walks through vairous habitats however, little opportunity to spot birds or capture them on camera.
I had travelled 400+ miles and would have more chance of seeing birds at Vane Farm.
Sorry but teh lodge gets a poor vote from me.
(Written by: WalterH)
26 May 2008 00:56