Welcome to the Summer into Autumn edition of our Nature Updates! While the reserve has been bursting with life throughout the warmer months, our Habitats and Estates Team hasn’t slowed down for a second. Late summer and autumn bring a shift from lush summer blooms to rich golden landscapes, and the work happening behind the …
Education and Wellbeing Update May-September
By Sam Massey The wonderfully dry and sunny weather has made for a busy, fun-filled summer for the Education team! Kids Clubs We have welcomed hundreds of children along to our Holiday Club sessions, both new faces and our regular attendees. These session are child-led, engaging and energetic! The Education Team have worked really hard to …
Balfour Beatty Day 2026
September 2, 2026
VOLUNTEERS RETURN TO WATCHTREE NATURE RESERVE FOR ANNUAL BALFOUR BEATTY DAY WIGTON, CUMBRIA – Watchtree Nature Reserve has once again joined forces with Balfour Beatty and its regional supply chain partners for the annual Balfour Beatty Volunteer Day. Held in memory of former colleague Grant Taylor, the dedicated work day saw teams assemble to carry out …
Why the portaloos?
August 25, 2026
Our Visitor Centre toilet facilities are connected to a septic tank that was installed around 2001. At the time, the system was designed to accommodate approximately 25 visitors per day, although additional capacity was built in to help extend its operational lifespan. Since then, visitor numbers have grown significantly beyond those original projections. As a …
Education and Wellbeing Update
June 11, 2026
By Sam Massey What a whirlwind start to my new role here at Watchtree! I’ve had a wonderful welcome from everyone in the Education Team and the wider Watchtree community. The first few months have been fantastically busy and the Education Zone has truly come alive – I’ve loved welcoming so many brilliant groups of …
GEN 2 Apprentices Unveil Unique Wellington Bomber Sculpture at Watchtree Nature Reserve
June 10, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Watchtree, Cumbria —08/06/2026 A striking new sculpture inspired by local aviation history and built from recycled materials has been officially installed at Watchtree Nature Reserve, showcasing the talent and innovation of 1st Year GEN 2 apprentices. The sculpture, a replica of a World War II Wellington Bomber, now sits proudly atop the …
Habitats and Estates updates Spring to Summer update
June 9, 2026
Welcome to the spring into summer edition of our Nature Updates! While the reserve may have looked quiet over the winter, our Habitats and Estates Team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes. Spring is a season of spectacular renewal at Watchtree, but the vibrant habitats we see blooming today are the direct result of …
Cumbria Harvest Mouse Project at Watchtree
June 8, 2026
Big Conservation in Tiny Packages: The Harvest Mice Reclaiming Watchtree Watchtree is famous for its big wildlife moments. On any given day, you might spot a roe deer slipping quietly through the woodlands, hear the sharp call of a curlew overhead, or catch the brilliant flash of an orange tip butterfly dancing across the cuckoo …
The Watchtower Project Update
It’s been longer than we’d hoped since our last project update. That delay is a reflection of how busy the reserve has been through March and April, and our day-to-day work has had to come first. While we’re all excited to get started, progress on the Watchtower Project has still been quietly moving forward in the background. First, we’d like to share some results …
Habitats and Estates updates winter
March 9, 2026
Our rush pasture has taken its first big step towards becoming a richer wetland, with two brand-new scrapes created on the reserve. These shallow pools, with their soft muddy edges, are perfect for holding water and are absolute magnets for wildlife. Scrapes are brilliant breeding grounds for insects and provide vital feeding areas for birds, …