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Heath violets, in acid grassland at The Lodge April 2024 - P.Bradley

Heathland at The Lodge now totals about 104ha including acid grassland, heather, gorse and bare ground.

The introduction of Dartmoor ponies to extensively graze parts of the heaths was a big change. Their job is to nibble here, eat there, scuffle the soil and, yes, poo a bit. A recent rarity was identified: ‘nail fungus’. Known from places like the…

Hi there, it's Bailey again! 

It's been an exciting month or so at The Lodge. We have been working hard to make the site the best it can be and have managed to get some funding from an organisation called GrantScape, through a grant from the Landfill Communities Fund. This has been hugely appreciated by all of us at The Lodge and has enabled us to take on some big projects. We are now happy to say that they are up…

Hi all, it’s Bailey again. This time I wanted to take some time to talk about some of the work that has been going on at both The Lodge and Fowlmere, in particular the work that our volunteers have been getting involved with. Our volunteers, as always, have been giving up their time to help us make a real difference.  

With spring on its way, and birds start to think about courtship and nesting, we are trying to…

Hi all, its Bailey again! Winter is nearing, and as the days draw colder and shorter, big changes are occurring across all our reserves. There are new fungi to see, different birds to hear and probably a few puddles to avoid (or not!). Winter brings a different feel to The Lodge and Fowlmere. There is something for everyone, and we have lots in store for you over these wintery months. 

For all you avid birdwatchers out…

Hi there, I am Bailey and I have been a new edition to the RSPB team. I am currently completing my university placement year with the RSPB and have been studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Reading for the last two years. Over my first two months as part of the team I have been able to get stuck in with many different projects, both at The Lodge and Fowlmere. I have learnt lots about conservation…

You may have read about it on social media or heard from one of our team on-site already, but our team of 6 handsome Dartmoor ponies have returned. Thanks to the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, Kevin, Pook, Thomas, Black Magic, Roger and Podkin have all returned for another year. This group of fantastically named ponies aren’t here for a holiday though and we are putting them to work!

The Lodge Reserve is a special…

The Lodge, like many reserves, was forced to close its doors to visitors when Storm Eunice hit. It was touch-and-go but we were just about able to keep open when Storm Franklin came to visit a couple of days later.

Windspeeds reached over 70mph, ripping up trees and rattling the buildings. Staff and volunteers spent days afterwards checking and clearing trails, removing fallen branches and trees and ensuring The Lodge…

We’re delighted to be partnering with Netflix and Aardman on Robin Robin, a half-hour, stop-motion, festive story for the whole family, about a young robin trying to fit in. It’s debuting on Netflix on 24 November – get the date in your diary!

To celebrate, we’re inviting you to join exclusive Robin Robin-themed adventure trails right here at The Lodge nature reserve this Christmas season.

Over 30…

Many of our supporters have fond memories of the Meadow Hide and have been asking questions regarding it since the start of the pandemic. We wanted to update you all on our plans for the hide at The Lodge.

Our much-loved hide at The Lodge has been closed since the first lockdown, following Covid-19 guidance from the government. Sadly, with many staff and volunteers no longer on-site, the hide became an easy target over the…

As you may remember reading in this blog, we’ve had plans here at RSPB The Lodge to have some new four-hooved team members join the reserve for quite some time. While Covid-19 put our plans for Spring 2020 on hold, we’re delighted to announce that six Dartmoor ponies joined our reserve this April and have set to work grazing the heath.

Teaming up with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, the ponies, named Kevin…

In January we had forestry contractors come onsite to carry out work to improve our woodlands, including working on areas of former pine plantations. Pine plantations are planted at high density and volume with the sole purpose of producing large volumes of timber for future harvesting. This is why, when you look at our woodlands which consist of areas of former plantations, they contain a dense number of pines. When…

In line with government guidance for lockdown, The Lodge and Fowlmere reserves remain open for local, essential, daily exercise only.

The Lodge car park, trails and toilets remain open. The visitor centre, shop and hide are closed and no events will be running during this time.

At Fowlmere, the car park and trails remain open. The visitor welcome and hides are closed.

We strongly urge you to follow the legislation around…

What’s happening here?

Our forestry contractors are onsite to carry out work to improve our woodlands, including working on areas of former pine plantations. Pine plantations are planted at high density and volume with the sole purpose of producing large volumes of timber for future harvesting. This is why when you look at our woodlands which consist of areas of former plantations they contain a dense number of…

After a 16-year absence since the last record of this species on our reserve, an overwintering female on the Old Heath, we are delighted that we have not one, but two Dartford warblers currently wintering on the site. 

From a glance (which many a visitor has discovered, is quite often the only views you get), the Dartford warbler can appear as a small, brownish bird with a distinctively long tail. However, for those who are treated…

What's that sound? Have you heard pine cones dropping when walking around the Buzzard Trail? Look up and you might be able to see crossbills!

The flock of up to 20 birds can be seen flying between conifer trees on the Buzzard Trail and have a favourite drinking spot at a pond next to the path on the seasonal Heathland Trail. These noisy finches eat seeds from conifer cones with their specially adapted bills that give…

Have you ever explored the Skylark Trail, part of RSPB’s The Lodge nature reserve?

The land to the north of the B1042Potton Road running from the RSPB gatehouse all the way to the TV aerial at Deepdale is known to us as Sandy Heath. There, RSPB manages farmland, woodlands, grassland and heathland for wildlife, and there’s an active sand quarry run by Tarmac that supplies most of the local area with sand for house…

Ever noticed tiny holes in the sandy paths at The Lodge? RSPB looks after a diverse range of wildlife, including over 200 species of bees and wasps.

Our local expert, Will George, took a closer look.

 ‘I noticed tiny insects flying around some holes at the edge of the bare ground, and after a few failed attempts, managed to catch one and take a closer look. I had caught one of the UK’s smallest bees!

 'It…

Have you heard a cuckoo yet? Or seen the swallows return? I heard the local swallows twittering above the garden at the end of April and was lucky enough to hear a cuckoo calling just outside the house on 7 May. I’ve heard that swifts are back too, though as of today I’ve yet to see or hear one. Although closed at present (14 May) due to the Covid19 crisis, this time of year sees most migrant back at The Lodge reserve…

There aren’t many British birds that like non-native conifers. To be honest, I don’t like them much either, yet this is one British bird that you might see or hear using a Leylandii hedge, or in the canopy of an otherwise silent conifer plantation.

Let’s not hold this 'lack of taste' against them. They are such beautiful, tiny birds, feathered in green and gold (the strip of orange / gold on the crown of their…

Facing another day of zoom meetings and missing the outdoors? We know the feeling... but what about still getting your nature fix whilst being in "meetings all day". 

What’s more, while our reserve remains closed for the time being, you can even choose this lovely scene from our very own RSPB The Lodge as your background!

Head over to https://bit.ly/rspbbackgrounds and start downloading for FREE!

Don’t…

Now is prime time to watch birds in boxes.

We’re lucky: almost every year blue tits nest in the box in our garden, which we carefully placed out of the way of cats on the side of a shed.
Early in the year we spot them investigating it, then later on taking in nesting material. Now (6 May) the blue tit parents are busy feeding their youngsters tasty (to them) caterpillars and bugs!

Early this year we put up a…

Dunnock  - a common songbird in town and city gardens, image by Ray Piercy  

Whether you are confined to your garden, or can take a walk or exercise nearby, April and May are the prime time for bird song, and Sunday 3 May 2020 is #DawnChorusDay … are you up for a challenge?

I guess I’m lucky. I learnt bird songs over thirty years ago, and as warden and then site manager I’ve been able to brush up on these skills…

Although the reserves are closed, there's plenty of wildlife to enjoy in our own gardens and on walks locally, and see, hear or even photograph.. 

One of my favourites is the goldfinch, which is stunningly beautiful, dressed in gold, black, red and white. I can only describe the song as 'bubbly'. Check it out for yourself on the RSPB website: 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a…