Events and Activities

The Rangers and Friends organise a wide range of events for all ages.  We have an events leaflet available in the Visitors' Centre, alternatively you can search the events database (link to the right) for events across the District.

Organised groups and school visits are very welcome throughout the year.  Environmental activities can be planned to suit all ages and abilities.  The Rangers have many ideas and resources and can help to lead topics such as minibeasts and pond dipping or biological identification.  The Visitors' Centre provides facilities for indoor activities and shelter for wet weather alternatives. Use the link to the right to download our education brochure detailing all of the activities on offer.  Please contact the Rangers for more information and to book a visit.

Rangers and volunteers can give talks about Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and lead guided walks.  Please contact the Rangers for more information.  

Walking around the Reserve

There are 2 circular routes with coloured waymarks and numbered posts which start from the Nature Reserve car park.  The Heron Trail is 3.2km (2 miles) and goes past lakes, through woodland and along the river bank with 2 bird hides to view the water birds.  The Meadow Trail is 2.4km (1.5 miles) and goes through meadows and around lakes and is especially good for wildflowers in Spring and Summer and dragonflies on sunny days.  You can also plan your own walk around the reserve using the River Trail and Permissive Paths which are also waymarked.  These link up with the Heron and Meadow Trails and together can be used to make up a variety of walks of up to 6.4km (4 miles) in length.

The reserve leaflet can be picked up from the Visitors’ Centre to help guide you around the paths and there are information panels with maps on at the main entrances to the reserve.  You can also download a copy of the leaflet using the link to the right.  The Ouse Valley Way long distance footpath runs through the Nature Reserve by the river.  This has now been connected from ‘source to sea’ so you can follow this path all the way to Kings Lynn.  To find out more information use the link to the Ouse Valley Way Website.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted on Hayling and Rudd Lakes.  For more details and season tickets, please contact Little Paxton Fisheries c/o Ouse Valley Specialist Angling on Huntingdon Street, St Neots Tel:(01480) 386088.  A section of the river Great Ouse is also open for fishing.  This is looked after by St Neots Angling Society and they can be contacted on (01480) 216730.