Idle Valley Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve

Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre & Nature Reserve - DSC_0219 - Edited - Heather Keetley

Heather Keetley

Idle Valley Visitor Centre & Nature Reserve

Reserve map

Idle Valley is the largest reserve in our care, located just five minutes away from Retford and within an hour of Nottingham, Lincoln, Doncaster, Sheffield and Newark. 

This beautiful nature reserve is one of the largest in the East Midlands and has something for everyone. Whether you’re planning a gentle stroll with the family, enjoying the treehouse play area, having a spot of lunch in a tranquil setting or are looking for somewhere to spend a whole day wildlife watching, Idle Valley Nature Reserve is the place to head to. We have a wheelchair and pushchair friendly lakeside walk too which includes a brass rubbing trail and self led den building area. Hire a discovery back pack from the cafe/shop for the children to use whilst exploring too!

Idle Valley is one of the richest birding sites in the region - look out for birds such as gadwall and little grebe in winter and breeding wading birds including little ringed plover and redshank in spring and summer. Our café and shop offer a warm welcome and a spectacular view over the reserve making it an ideal destination whatever the weather.

See our vision for Idle Valley Nature Reserve

Avian Flu: advice for visitors

The current strain of avian Flu reported in the UK (H5) is very low risk to humans.

The disease is transmitted from bird to bird, so we have been advised that there is no health risk to humans visiting our Reserves, as long as you do not touch any birds.

Find out what to do if you find a dead, sick or injured bird

Dogs on nature reserves

We love dogs, but wildlife isn’t as keen!

So please keep dogs on leads at all times across our nature reserves, especially around livestock and ground nesting birds, where we ask that you keep dogs under close control.

We welcome well-behaved owners and their dogs in our visitor centre but please be considerate to those who are less confident around dogs.

Read more

Wildlife to see at Idle Valley

Will you help us look after this special place?

Any donations will help us to look after this important spaces for wildlife and visitors
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Upcoming events at Idle Valley

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