Wild Rutland

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🌿Peel back the leaves and discover an exciting natural world of adventure... The closer you get to nature, the closer you want to be.

Wild Rutland is an exciting new nature & wildlife reserve set within 1200 acres of stunning Rutland countryside, for all to enjoy. Imagine a place where your senses come alive with the sights and sounds of the natural world. Imagine an experience where all of this and more is open to delight and inspire every generation of your family. Step into nature and join us on the journey

30/10/2026

🦇 Bats aren’t the bad guys!

With their association with vampires, haunted houses and all things spooky, bats have earned themselves a rather unfair reputation.

But these fascinating little mammals are actually some of the most remarkable creatures in our countryside. 🌿

This Bat Week (24–31 October), we’re busting a few myths and celebrating the important role bats play in our natural world.

Far from being something to fear, Britain’s bats are extraordinary insect hunters, helping to keep insect populations in balance and playing an important role in healthy ecosystems.

Here in Rutland, our woodlands, hedgerows, gardens and waterways provide vital habitats for these nocturnal neighbours.

As autumn turns to winter, bats begin preparing for hibernation, seeking out safe, sheltered places to spend the colder months.

Sadly, habitat loss, declining insect populations and increasing artificial lighting are making life more difficult for them.

💚 The good news? We can all help. By protecting mature trees and hedgerows, reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting and encouraging insects into our gardens, we can make a real difference.

So, next time you spot a bat darting through the evening sky, take a moment to appreciate just how extraordinary these little creatures are.

🦇 Swipe to discover the truth behind some common bat myths!

Have you spotted any bats around Rutland this autumn? We’d love to hear where!

27/10/2026

October has been World Animal Month! 🐾🌿

Meet some of the wonderful wildlife that makes our little corner of the countryside so special.

From water voles hiding along our waterways and hares bounding across open fields to tiny shrews rustling through the undergrowth, Rutland is home to some extraordinary creatures. Others, like the elusive hazel dormouse, have become incredibly rare.

And wouldn’t it be lovely to spot a red squirrel in Rutland again? 🐿️❤️

Once a familiar sight across Britain, our native red squirrels have sadly disappeared from much of the country. The introduction of grey squirrels from North America brought competition for food and habitat, as well as squirrelpox, a virus that can be fatal to reds. Habitat loss has also played a part in their decline.

It’s a reminder of just how precious our native wildlife is, and why protecting the places these creatures call home matters so much.

So this World Animal Month, we’re celebrating the creatures great and small that make our countryside wonderfully wild. 🌳

💚 We’d love to know – what’s the most special wildlife encounter you’ve had in Rutland? Tell us in the comments!

26/10/2026

🍂 Autumn days outdoors, cosy evenings indoors.

There’s something rather special about Rutland at this time of year. The changing colours of the countryside, mist rising over the water, migrating birds arriving for winter and woodlands full of autumn life.

And what better way to experience it all than by staying somewhere surrounded by nature?

We’re lucky to have some wonderful local places that offer the chance to slow down, step outside and appreciate the natural beauty on our doorstep. 🌿

🍁 5* Glamping & Wedding Venue – Nestled in the Rutland countryside, a lovely spot to immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of rural life.

🦆 The Hide at Manton bay – With beautiful views across Rutland Water, one of the county’s most important habitats for wildlife and a wonderful place to watch the changing seasons.

🌳 Stretton Lakes – Surrounded by lakes and greenery, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and the wildlife that calls it home.

Whether it’s an early morning walk, an afternoon spent birdwatching or simply sitting quietly and listening to the sounds of nature, autumn is a wonderful time to explore Rutland.

21/10/2026

Half term is here, and there’s no better time to get the kids outdoors, exploring the natural world around them.

Autumn is a wonderful season for curious little minds, with fallen leaves to investigate, conkers to discover and fascinating fungi popping up across our woodlands.

And the best bit? You don’t need to venture far or spend a penny to enjoy it.

🍁 Get creative with leaf rubbing and learn how to identify different trees.

🌰 Hunt for conkers and discover how horse chestnut trees spread their seeds.

🍄 Go on a fungi-spotting adventure and learn about the important role fungi play in our ecosystems. Remember to look, not pick!

🦔 Give wildlife a helping hand by creating a cosy shelter from fallen leaves and sticks in your garden.

These simple activities are a lovely way to encourage children to slow down, notice the little things and develop an appreciation for the wildlife and habitats around them.

Because sometimes the smallest outdoor adventures inspire the biggest love of nature. 💚

📌 Save this for October half term, and tell us – what’s your family’s favourite way to explore the outdoors?

19/10/2026

New season, new arrivals! 🐦🍂

As the temperatures begin to drop, Rutland welcomes some very special visitors. Every autumn, thousands of birds travel from colder parts of northern Europe and beyond to spend the winter in our countryside, wetlands and woodlands.

And with Rutland Water providing one of Britain’s most important winter refuges for wildfowl, we’re lucky to have some incredible birdlife right on our doorstep.

Here are five winter visitors to keep an eye out for:

🦆 Wigeon – These beautiful ducks arrive from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. Listen for their distinctive whistling calls around Rutland Water.

🍂 Redwing – Britain’s smallest thrush, recognised by its rusty-red flanks. Look for them feasting on berries in our hedgerows, or listen for their calls overhead on autumn nights.

🐦 Dunlin – These little wading birds can be spotted along the muddy edges of Rutland Water, using their slightly curved beaks to search for tiny creatures beneath the surface.

🧡 Brambling – With their gorgeous orange plumage, these winter finches travel from northern Europe and may be spotted feeding alongside chaffinches.

🌾 Jack Snipe – One of our more elusive winter visitors! These tiny, perfectly camouflaged waders hide in wet grassland and have a rather charming bobbing motion when feeding.

Whether you’re exploring Rutland Water or wandering our countryside footpaths, autumn and winter offer some wonderful opportunities to discover wildlife.

💚 Have you spotted any of these winter visitors yet? Tell us in the comments!

📌 Save this post for your next winter wildlife walk.

17/10/2026

Did you know that nearly 100 species of fungi have been recorded around Rutland Water alone? Here’s a selection we’ve spotted at our recent Fungi events. Join us for our next one on Tuesday, 27th October - click the link in our bio to book your place.

Fungi aren’t just lovely to look at. They play a vital role in keeping our woodlands healthy, breaking down dead material, recycling nutrients and supporting the ecosystems around them. 🌿

Autumn is one of the best times to spot them, so next time you’re exploring Rutland’s woodlands, slow down and take a closer look at what’s growing amongst the fallen leaves.

🍄 Have you spotted any interesting fungi on your autumn walks? We’d love to see your finds! Tag us in your photos.

13/10/2026

From sketching the rich colours of autumn, to photographing deer at first light, to discovering the fascinating world of fungi, we’ve got three wonderful ways to get closer to nature this month.

✨ Autumn Colours Wild Sketching Workshop
✨ Autumn Deer Photographic Outing
✨ Fungi

Whether you fancy a creative afternoon, an early-morning wildlife experience, or a deeper dive into the hidden wonders of the natural world, there’s something to inspire every curious mind this October.

Spaces are limited, so if one of these has caught your eye, now’s the time to book.

Head to the link in our bio to find out more and reserve your place.

09/10/2026

From acorns and hazelnuts to haws, rose hips and those familiar spinning ‘helicopters’, autumn brings an abundance of seeds, nuts and fruits to Rutland’s trees and hedgerows.
The Tree Council’s Seed Gathering Season, until 21 October, is a chance to look a little closer at what’s growing around us, and to think about what those tiny seeds could become.

Gathering and growing locally sourced seed can help create the next generation of trees, hedgerows and wildlife habitats, while providing food and shelter for countless species along the way. 🌳

Swipe through to discover a few of the seeds and fruits you might spot this autumn ➡️

🌱 Visit the Volunteers page on our website to sign up.
Please remember to gather responsibly: only collect where you have permission and always leave plenty behind for wildlife and natural regeneration.

01/10/2026

The ospreys have left Rutland… so where are they now? 🦅🌍

After spending spring and summer here breeding, fishing and raising their chicks, Rutland’s ospreys head south for the winter, travelling thousands of miles to West Africa.

And they don’t go together. Unlike many of us embarking on a long journey, there’s no family road trip involved: adults and youngsters migrate individually, each leaving in their own time and making the journey south alone.

By now, many will be much further along their migration or settling into the wetlands, rivers and coastal areas of West Africa, where they’ll spend the winter doing what ospreys do best, fishing, feeding and building up their strength.

For young ospreys, the adventure is even longer. They generally remain in Africa for their first couple of years before making their first journey north.

That includes this year’s two Site B chicks, 8R9 and 9R0, both females. And while we’d love to see them back at Wild Rutland one day, female ospreys often disperse further from the place where they were born when they eventually return to breed. So, in a few years’ time, they may well choose somewhere else to call home.

No male chicks fledged from Site B this year, but with the males more likley to return to the area of their birth, we will hopefully see some of those that hatched on other local nests in times to come.

For now, the Site B nest may be quiet, but its youngsters are out in the world beginning an extraordinary new chapter.

And while we wait for the adults to return next spring, we’ll be wondering just where 8R9 and 9R0’s journeys might take them. 🤎

BirdMigration

29/09/2026

Autumn is arriving at Wild Rutland 🍂

Not all at once, but in little glimpses. Blackberries are almost finished, seed heads drying in the sun, willowherb turning soft and silver, and the first oak leaves beginning to shift from green to gold.

Look closely and you can see the new season everywhere. 🌿🍁

WildRutland

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Rutland

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http://www.wildrutland.com/

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