Chad Greggor
Visitor Centres
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has two visitor centres, Parkridge Nature Centre, located in Solihull, and Brandon Marsh Nature Centre located just outside Coventry. Take a walk on our reserves and stop in for a coffee and a bite to eat at the café.
Find out more about our visitor centres below.
Brand Marsh Nature Centre
Robin at Brandon Marsh by David Edwards
Chad Greggor
Brandon Marsh by Anne Patterson
Autumn 2020 by David Goldsmith
Nestled in the countryside just outside Coventry, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is the perfect place for a wild day out.
The large nature reserve has pools, reedbeds, woodland and meadows, and is snaked by the river Avon. Ideal for birdwatchers with nine bird hides, and great for families of all ages thanks to a range of buggy-accessible walking trails.
Look out for dragonflies and damselflies, woodpeckers, darting kingfishers, and the many species of butterfly which live on the reserve.
Brandon Marsh café is open seven days a week and offers hot and cold drinks, lunches, ice cream and cakes.
About the Nature Reserve
Brandon Marsh murmuration by Ste Hartley
Once an industrial gravel quarry, this wild blend of pools, reedbeds, woodland and meadows is now a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the perfect place to spot local and more uncommon wildlife.
The reserve has nine wildlife hides, ideal for birdwatching or spotting the elusive otters, and a range of trails which are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.
Many birds nest here, including warblers, cuckoo, lapwing, redshank and owls, and our knowledgeable staff are always happy to relay which species have been seen on the day of your visit. We have seasonal spotter sheets to help you identify what you might see at the reserve.
Events and activities
Our education team run fun, bookable activities such as pond dipping and bug discoveries.
View upcoming sessions on our events page.
For younger children, the education garden is a great space to play in the mud kitchen and jump around the log circle!
Parkridge Nature Centre
Parkridge reserve by Louise Barrack
Parkridge Garden by Vicky Lincoln
At the heart of Brueton Park in Solihull, Parkridge Nature Centre sits within a historic arboretum that has been carefully restored for wildlife.
The nature reserve features impressive giant redwood trees alongside native species such as oak and maple. It's an excellent place to see birds, with a variety of popular British and migratory species including nesting bluetits, woodpeckers, nuthatch, long tailed tits and goldcrest.
About the Nature Reserve
Parkridge reserve by Louise Barrack
Take a walk around the trails, the smaller of which is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies, and discover the lake at the centre of the reserve. Amongst the lily pads you'll find ducks, moorhens and coots to feed (wildlife-friendly seed is available to purchase from the Visitor Centre) and you may even spot the resident herons catching fish from beneath the cascading willow tree, or a kingfisher swooping over the water.
Events and activities
There is a small playground for children of all ages to enjoy and plenty of activities to discover. Our cafe offers hot and cold drinks, food, cakes and ice cream to keep you refreshed during your visit. Sit indoors and watch wildlife through the cafe windows while you refuel or take advantage of the outdoor seating around the trails.
As well as the woodland playground, arboretum and mud kitchen, younger visitors can now learn about nature on our play trail. Children can explore the textures and colours of the natural world, scramble up our cargo net like a squirrel climbing a tree, or crawl through our tunnel like a wiggly worm. Come and discover your wild side!
