We travelled around half an hour to bring our 3-year-old for a nature walk after reading on the website that entry is free and donations are voluntary. Shortly after we arrived and started walking, we were approached by a member of staff and told that a donation was required to enter. This came as a surprise, as it didn’t match our understanding from the website. Had we been able to enjoy the walk first and felt the experience was worthy of a donation, we would have happily considered contributing. Instead, we felt pressured into making what was described as a voluntary donation before we’d even had a chance to look around, which made it feel more like a compulsory entry fee. I’m always happy to support charities and good causes, so this wasn’t about the money. It was the attitude and the way we were approached that left us disappointed. Rather than argue, we decided to leave. Instead, we drove another 10 minutes to Syderstone Common and had a lovely family walk. We saw a deer, plenty of wild birds, and enjoyed the countryside without feeling pressured. In my opinion, the experience here didn’t reflect the welcoming, voluntary-donation approach suggested on the website. Unfortunately, our visit left us feeling that fundraising was prioritised over providing a positive visitor experience.

We enjoyed our visit. Great bunch of volunteers. Well maintained site.

Great place to visit, different birds each time. You can get great views of the birds at the feeding stations. Boardwalk makes it easy for wheelchair or mobility scooter. Staff we very helpful after I fell over (my own clumsiness).

A lovely nature reserve which seemed well maintained in a good way. You can either become a member (you can access out of hours with a special carpark pass) or pay a donation (suggested price of £10 each). Lots of hides and notice boards around the reserve and seats to sit on in between. No dogs are allowed and no smoking is allowed on site. They run a toddler group and the children/parents were enjoying the outdoors whilst we were visiting.

A great place to visit. Plenty of parking (including EV chargers), toilets, lovely walks with lots to see, even if you're not a professional twitcher! 🐦🦉📸