Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre

This Visitor Centre with its superb facilities is located on the Egleton section of the reserve. It is open daily throughout the year from 9:00am to 5:00pm (4:00pm November - April) and is a good place to start your visit. The Centre is clearly signposted from the A6003 road, 1 mile south of Oakham. (See the map page the for location). There is another Visitor Centre at the Lyndon Hill Reserve.

AWBC external view.

The Gift Shop

AWBC The gift shop

The shop has a wide variety of gifts including:

  •  a range of bird feeders and bird seed to fill it with;
  • original artwork by John Wright and other local wildlife artists;
  • Rutland Ospreys, specially designed mugs and T-shirts;
  • a big variety of bird books and CDs, for beginners and experts alike.

All profits from the shop go to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

Bird's eye view


David Coles took this picture of the easterly aspect of the centre - this is the view that the birds have of the building from Lagoon I.

View of Centre from the west

The Rutland Environmental Education Centre

RW The Education Centre

The Education Centre has a large meeting room which is available to hire. It offers unrivalled views across the reserve as well as the latest technology and flexible arrangements for meetings, workshops or social events. Please click here for more pictures and details of how to book the room.

Home of the Osprey

Wooden osprey

The extended Centre was officially opened by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 28 June 2001. Prince Philip met and talked with volunteers and staff before unveiling a magnificent wooden sculpture of an Osprey by Trevor Bent. The sculpture has been mounted in the reception/shop area of the visitor centre.

Exhibition Room


Exhibition RoomSummer panorama by John WrightExhibition Room

The exhibition and interpretation room has a range of interactive displays of interest to kids and adults alike. 

During the summer months there is also an extensive display about the Osprey Project, with video images from an Osprey nest and staff on hand to help interpret what is happening

 

in focus

The in-focus shop has a permanent home in the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.

In-focus are binocular and telescope specialists and a comprehensive selection of optical equipment are in stock. Expert advice is available to help you choose the right optics for you and being able to try out different models by looking at birds on Lagoon 1 is a great advantage.