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N is for nature reserves

Our series of posts helping you to explore our county is an A-Z of Bedfordshire places, landscapes and history. Each post includes tips for walks and places to visit.

This time we put the spotlight on Bedfordshire’s nature reserves, highlighting the wide variety of habitats and wildlife that you can find in them. We also look at family friendly days out and practical ways to get involved with nature conservation.

National Nature Reserves

National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are designated by Natural England. They were established to protect some of our most important habitats, species and geology, and to provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research. Bedfordshire is home to three NNRs: Barton Hills, King’s Wood and Rushmere, and Knocking Hoe. Barton Hills is home to a mix of lowland chalk grassland and beech woodland. Important species include a range of butterflies and wildflowers which thrive on chalk soils, as well as mammals like hares, weasels and stoats.

Barton Hills National Nature Reserve interpretation board. — Look out for information boards which help visitors interpret the landscape.

Kings Wood and Rushmere is an important area of ancient semi-natural woodland, acid grassland and lowland heath.

Figures walking away from the camera on a path through a heathland and woodland landscape. — Rushmere Country Park

Knocking Hoe is an area of chalk grassland known for supporting large populations of a number of rare plants, including the burnt tip orchid and pasque flower.

Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are designated and managed by district or county councils. Town and parish councils can also create LNRs if the district council has given them the power to do this. LNRs can be found throughout Bedfordshire and include a wide range of different kinds of site from Hill Rise Local Nature Reserve, a small hidden gem near Bedford Cemetery, to the larger sweep of Galley & Warden Hills Nature Reserve on the edge of Luton, where you can walk through a landscape of chalk grassland. Stotfold Mill stands in a Local Nature Reserve, with riverside meadows where you might spot a kingfisher.

A river with swans, wooded banks and in the distance mill buildings. — Stotfold Mill and Local Nature Reserve.

Nature conservation organisations

The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants manage 21 nature reserves across the county. These include Cooper’s Hill, one of the county’s largest remaining areas of heathland, the wetland habitats of Felmersham Gravel Pits which are an excellent site for dragonflies and damselflies, and the chalk hills of Pegsdon in the Chilterns.

The RSPB’s reserve at Sandy is home to a mosaic of habitats including heathland, woodland and acid grasslands. Wildlife spotters should look out for natterjack toads, lizards, nightjars and hobbies.

Close-up of pink-purple heather in bloom. — Heathland at The Lodge, the RSPB’s reserve in Sandy.

The Greensand Trust manage seven nature reserves in the Greensand area, including part of the King’s Wood and Rushmere NNR, and their newest site at Clophill Lakes.

The Forest of Marston Vale have a wetlands nature reserve as part of their Forest Centre site. It includes a trail, hides, reed beds and the sand martin wall.

Lake with curving sand martin wall in the distance. — The sand martin wall – Wetlands Nature Reserve, Marston Vale Millennium Country Park

Family friendly

If you’re looking for ways to help children connect with the natural world then some of Bedfordshire’s nature reserves are particularly family friendly, providing activities for children, pushchair friendly paths, play areas and baby changing facilities. Check out their websites to make sure they meet your needs. Harrold-Odell Country Park is a Local Nature Reserve in north Bedfordshire with plenty to offer families including an activity pack, downloadable resources, play areas and other facilities.

Two children's activity packs set against a wooden bench in the shape of a fish. A lake is visible in the background. — Children’s activity packs at Harrold-Odell Country Park.

Other nature reserves featured here that you might want to try include The Lodge (RSPB), Rushmere Country Park and Stotfold Mill.

Get involved

As well as being wonderful places for a peaceful walk or a chance to watch wildlife, nature reserves often offer opportunities to get involved. Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity maintain a list of opportunities for practical conservation volunteering, or you can contact your local site directly.

Explore Bedfordshire’s Nature Reserves

A pond with lily pads surrounded by wild grassland. In the distance you can just make out the roof of a house.

Hill Rise Local Nature Reserve, Bedford.