Days out
The Lodge
SandyOpenSee opening timesRamble through rolling heathland and spot Hobbies racing after dragonflies or large flocks of thrushes darting around.
About
Head to The Lodge, Sandy to find the largest stretch of heathland in Bedfordshire. This rare habitat is the place to spot some of the reserve’s iconic species such as breeding Hobbies, Nightjars, Ravens, Common Lizards and Natterjack Toads.
Beyond the heathland, The Lodge nature reserve’s acid grasslands are a magnet for large flocks of thrushes who feed there in winter. Its hilly woodlands are filled with towering oaks, where in summer Spotted Flycatchers catch food for their brood.
The reserve includes an area of farmland, managed to attract wintering farmland birds, as well as part of a sand quarry where you can find rare minibeasts and, in summer, Sand Martins.
We work to create ideal conditions for the varied wildlife that calls The Lodge home.
For 5,000 years heathland was the main habitat in this part of the world, but forestry and farming took over in the 1800s. In 2005, the RSPB began a project to restore some of this former habitat. The chosen area, known as Sandy Heath, was transformed by stripping turf and mowing, while sheep were brought into graze. The area was then reseeded with heather and new pools were created for Natterjack Toads. The reserve is now one of the best inland sites to see these amphibians.
Elsewhere in the reserve, we’re removing non-native trees from our woodland while encouraging areas of oak and birch.
The gardens at the Lodge are organic and no peat is used. We hope people will visit and be inspired to make their own gardens and outdoor spaces wonderful places for wildlife.
Download our trail map, to help you plan your visit.
At a glance
The main car park:
⦁ 40 spaces
⦁ 3 Blue Badge spaces. Free parking for Blue Badge holders. Blue Badge spaces are 50m from the Gatehouse entrance. Blue Badge Space further down the drive towards The Lodge house.
Compacted stone surface. No lighting. No formal drop-off point.
The second car park:
⦁ 30 spaces
⦁ 5 Blue Badge/accessible spaces
The surface is reinforced concrete grid with grass filling. There is an informal drop off with a dropped kerb close to the ramp to the café. The accessible spaces are around 50m to the café entrance via a 1.5m wide plastic gravel grid path. There is some street light style lighting in this car park.
Open daily 10am-4pm.
They are located in a separate block next to the shop. There are 5 additional toilets at the café. 4 are all gender and one is all gender accessible.
Baby change is available in both the accessible toilet and one other toilet.
Our baby changing facilities are located in our toilets in a separate toilet block next to the shop.
There are 5 additional toilets at the café. 4 are all gender and one is all gender accessible.
Baby change is available in both the accessible toilet and one other toilet.
The path from the Visitor centre and shop, past the hide and to The Lodge house and around the gardens is on level, although at times slightly uneven ground.
Other paths will have steeper, stepped sections and are not suitable for mobility vehicles and most prams.
The path from the Visitor centre and shop, past the hide and to The Lodge house and around the gardens is on level, although at times slightly uneven ground.
Other paths will have steeper, stepped sections and are not suitable for mobility vehicles and most prams.
Open daily 10am-4pm.
They are located in a separate block next to the shop. There are 5 additional toilets at the café. 4 are all gender and one is all gender accessible.
Baby change is available in both the accessible toilet and one other toilet.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Sorry, no dogs in the visitor centre except assistance dogs, dogs can be walked on a lead along the bridleway on our Skylark Trail. A water bowl is available at the Gatehouse.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
See what’s here
Save nature while you staycation
Holidaycottages.co.uk is working with the RSPB to restore UK woodland for future generations to enjoy. Every booking with Holidaycottages.co.uk supports woodland restoration projects at key RSPB reserves around the country, protecting the wildlife that makes the UK an extraordinary place for a holiday.
New to Holidaycottages.co.uk portfolio of handpicked self-catering holiday cottages is the Showcase Collection: Near RSPB Reserves. At these extraordinary homes, immerse yourself in the diverse landscapes of RSPB reserves and get up close to some of the UK’s most cherished native wildlife.
Contact The Lodge
thelodgereserve@rspb.org.uk The Lodge nature reserve, Gatehouse The Lodge, Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL 01767 680551 (HQ) 01767 693333 (Shop)