Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre

Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre offers a year round programme of events, workshops, special exhibitions, walks and talks for children, families and adults. The Centre is situated off Lower Way on the northern side of Thatcham Lake close to Thatcham Reed Beds Local Nature Reserve and is a partnership between West Berkshire Council, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and English Nature. Drop into the centre in Muddy Lane, Lower Way, Thatcham during opening hours:

Booking for school groups is essential. Contact The Education Officer first on 01635 874381.

The area is of outstanding importance for nature conservation, with the reed beds representing one of the largest stands of inland reeds remaining in the country. The area is home to a variety of birdlife including large breeding populations of Reed and Sedge Warblers. Many rare insects can be found at the Reserve, including the spectacular day flying Scarlet Tiger Moth.

The Centre provides an exciting base from which to study the unique Lake and reed bed habitats. The Nature Discovery Centre is more than just an information centre, it is a multi-activity base from which you can make your own discoveries; visitors are encouraged to look, listen, touch and learn through an exciting range of interactive exhibits. 

Other countryside sites owned or managed by West Berkshire District Council 

• Thatcham Reedbed Nature Reserve, Thatcham
• Greenham Common, Newbury (contact D. Parrett Countryside Ranger for details of activities etc,Tel. 519611 )
• Snelsmore Common Country Park, Nr. Newbury
• Hosehill Lake Local Nature Reserve Theale
• Bucklebury Common, Nr. Newbury
• Padworth Common, Padworth
• Wokefield Common, Burghfield
• Holybrooke Linear Park, Calcot

For further enquiries about access to these sites Tel. Paul Hendry, Countryside Manager on 01635 519858