News

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 …

We’re in the process of creating our 2026 Calendar and on the hunt for some gorgeous nature photography to make it extra special. If you have any standout images that represent the nature and landscape over the four seasons of the year, please send them our way. Proceeds from the sale of the calendar go …

To continue our theme of #ArtatWatchtree we have an incredible new artist to introduce you to. “My name is Diane, I am a retired secondary school Art Teacher and a volunteer at Watchtree Nature Reserve, a place very special to me.I am part of a team which keeps the birdfeed feeders topped up and cleaned, …

Inclusive Community Walk at Watchtree Nature Reserve – Wednesday, 30th April 2025 Watchtree Nature Reserve invites the community to take part in its second annual Watchtree Charity Walk, an accessible and family-friendly event offering two scenic routes: Both routes are wheelchair, pushchair, and dog-friendly (short leads required). A Walk for All – With Optional Fundraising …

Watchtree Nature Reserve Welcomes a Supersized Great Crested Newt Sculpture by Renowned Chainsaw Artist Tom Smith Watchtree Nature Reserve is thrilled to introduce a stunning new addition to its landscape—a magnificent Great Crested Newt sculpture, skillfully crafted by acclaimed chainsaw artist Tom Smith of WoodSmith Carving. The sculpture, inspired by The Adventures of Flash and Iris, …