Go Wild at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, Near Newbury
There’s lots to enjoy at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre – two wooden play areas, Thatcham Lake with ducks galore, a cafe with indoor and outdoor tables and a Visitor Centre full of games and puzzles. There are also reed beds, wetlands, woodlands and even a canal to explore.
Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre Adventure Play Area
The adventure play area’s equipment is aimed at children of over 8 years old.
The equipment includes:
- a huge, wooden climbing frame with wobbly bridges, a tube slide and another slide
- balancing courses
- obstacles
- climbing bars
- a zip slide.
A Play Area for Younger Children
The second play area’s animal-themed equipment is aimed at younger children.
It has:
- toddler swings
- a balance course
- frog and sheep springers
- a large wooden cat with a fireman’s pole nose
- another two slides – one shaped like a spider and the other like a frog.
The Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre is next to the play area and houses a cafe, a shop (where you can buy duck food) and a small, wildlife-inspired indoor play area with some unusual jigsaws, feelie box puzzles, brasses to rub and a fish tank.
This area was much quieter, probably because the weather outside was beautiful, and we spent an uninterrupted half hour playing.
The staff were lovely and when we ran out of paper for the brass rubbing they brought some more over without us needing to ask.
Thatcham Lake
The lakeside is often covered in wandering water birds. Ducks, moorhens, geese and swans were everywhere and seemed very used to visitors, some hardly moving when approached.
The Walks
There are three walks signposted from the Visitor Centre that take 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
The paths are generally flat and firm with the occasional tree root.
Visit the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre website
Further Information
Nearest Town: Thatcham, near Newbury and Reading
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG19 3FU
Opens: Daily during the summer but closed on Mondays during the winter.
Cost: Free
Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets.
How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.
Parking: There are a few car parks.
Cost of Parking: Free – donations are suggested but not required.
Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, waterbirds and insects.
Information Written: April 2017
Ratings
Our visit to Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre in Thatcham, near Newbury and Reading, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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