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Watchtree Nature Reserve will be closed on Thursday 22 January due to scheduled local electricity works. Car parks will remain open from 9am–5pm, so visitors are still welcome to enjoy the reserve grounds. Please note that the following facilities will be closed for the day: Toilet access:Our compost toilet, located approximately 1 mile from the …

Watchtree Nature Reserve marked the launch of its 2026 Watchtree Wildlife Calendar with a special celebration evening at the Visitors Centre, honouring the talented photographers whose images feature in next year’s calendar. The event brought together contributors, volunteers, and supporters to celebrate the creativity and community spirit behind the project. Guests enjoyed refreshments, viewed the printed …

 Watchtree Nature Reserve, nr Wiggonby, Carlisle manages a robust habitat and wildlife programme, delivers a successful education and events programme, provides cycle hire, co-ordinates a range of running activities and operates a café as a welcoming meeting point for many groups and individuals.  Volunteers, Morag and Dave Thompson, have been the heart and soul of …

On Friday, 8th August 2025, Watchtree Nature Reserve proudly welcomed volunteers from Balfour Beatty and partner organisations for the fourth annual Balfour Beatty Volunteer Day, held in memory of Grant Taylor, a much-loved colleague who tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 22. Grant was instrumental in developing plans for Balfour Beatty’s charitable …

Watchtree Nature Reserve is now home to six brand-new, beautifully crafted wood sculptures, created by talented local wood carver Thomas Smith of Greensmith Carving. The carvings celebrate the much-loved characters from Watchtree’s interactive walking trail, The Adventures of Flash and Iris, written by Anja Phoenix of Tale Trails. Visitors can now meet: Each sculpture has been carved from a windblown …

In the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the world slowed down and families sought fresh air and freedom,  Laura  mum-of-four stepped forward with a simple, powerful idea: make the outdoors easier to enjoy. That woman was Laura Earl, founder of The Hiking Household – a walking website and charity that’s helped thousands of families rediscover the …

Watchtree Nature Reserve is absolutely delighted to announce the refurbishment of our indoor education space – now newly renamed The Howdens Hut! Thanks to the generous support of Howdens Kitchens, Wigton, we’ve received a donation of high-quality kitchen units and work surfaces that have transformed the interior of the Hut. This upgrade provides much-needed storage …

After a short hiatus, the much-loved Watchtree Parents Walk is making its return to Watchtree Nature Reserve — just in time to celebrate National Walking Month. The group, formerly known as Ready Steady Mums, has relaunched with a fresh, inclusive focus and an incredible new team of over five volunteer walk leaders, all ready to …