The Willows Nature Reserve
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome
Getting here
52.60090, 0.36641
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦103+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Cormorant and Grey Heron
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 178m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦103+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Cormorant and Grey Heron
- ☀️Summer family visits work well here — arrive early and plan for a longer stay
- 🛝Playground 178m away — built-in entertainment for younger visitors alongside the wider site
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan +100 more · last seen 2025; Lowland fens — specialist fen birds and passage waders
Free
Birds — Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan +100 more · last seen 2025; Lowland fens priority habitat
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Adonis' Ladybird, Riponnensia splendens, Cheilosia grossa +50 more · last seen 2026; Lowland fens — fen dragonflies and rare invertebrates
Free
🛝Family friendly
Strong match
playground; Urban park — family destination
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Common Whitlowgrass, Lords-and-Ladies, Garlic Mustard +42 more · last seen 2026
Free
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km2 signed routes nearby · 3 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Fen Rivers Way (Ely to King's Lynn)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Ouse Valley Way 4 (Brandon Creek to King’s Lynn)Walking route▾
Named routePoint-to-pointRegional walking route
38 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Regional Route 30 (alternative)Cycling route▾
Named routeRef (30)Regional cycle route
Downham Market Ring CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Regional Cycle Route 30Cycling route373 km▾
Named routeRef 30Length 373 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
NCN National Route 11Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 11National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route868 m▾
Named routeRef 11Length 868 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route349 m▾
Named routeRef 11Length 349 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
7 public paths nearby
Public paths
Fairfield Roadrestricted byway · 281 m▾
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 281 mPath type: service
Photos
Attenborough Nature Reserve
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Meliscaeva auricollis
Meliscaeva auricollis
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinaxEristalis arbustorumEristalis arbustorumEristalis arbustorumEristalis arbustorumCramp-Ball Fungus WeevilPlatyrhinus resinosusCramp-Ball Fungus WeevilPlatyrhinus resinosusBox BugGonocerus acuteangulatusBox BugGonocerus acuteangulatus7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataNipplewortLapsana communisNipplewortLapsana communisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisCommon MallowMalva sylvestrisFennelFoeniculum vulgareFennelFoeniculum vulgareIvy-leaved SpeedwellVeronica hederifoliaIvy-leaved SpeedwellVeronica hederifoliaPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusPetty SpurgeEuphorbia peplusDwarf MallowMalva neglectaDwarf MallowMalva neglectaSticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratumSticky Mouse-earCerastium glomeratumFeverfewTanacetum partheniumFeverfewTanacetum partheniumHollyhockAlcea roseaHollyhockAlcea roseaHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumHart's-TongueAsplenium scolopendriumSpringbeautyClaytonia perfoliataSpringbeautyClaytonia perfoliataHairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsutaHairy Bitter-cressCardamine hirsutaGroundselSenecio vulgarisGroundselSenecio vulgarisLesser CelandineFicaria vernaLesser CelandineFicaria vernaCleaversGalium aparineCleaversGalium aparineBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusBroad-leaved DockRumex obtusifoliusDaisyBellis perennisDaisyBellis perennisDandelionTaraxacumDandelionTaraxacumBrambleRubus fruticosusBrambleRubus fruticosusSweet VioletViola odorataSweet VioletViola odorataGreater CelandineChelidonium majusGreater CelandineChelidonium majusWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumWhite Dead-nettleLamium albumIvyHedera helixIvyHedera helixCherry PlumPrunus cerasiferaCherry PlumPrunus cerasiferaRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisIvy-leaved ToadflaxCymbalaria muralisBuddlejaBuddlejaBuddlejaBuddlejaMistletoeViscum albumMistletoeViscum albumCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaCommon Field-speedwellVeronica persicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaCommon NettleUrtica dioicaDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleDove's-foot Crane's-billGeranium molleShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisShepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastorisRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumYarrowAchillea millefoliumYarrowAchillea millefoliumCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaCommon ChickweedStellaria mediaBuck's-horn PlantainPlantago coronopusBuck's-horn PlantainPlantago coronopus