Make a Bird Feeder
Become a different type of chef as you put together a nutritious dinner for our feathered, woodland friends. Minimum age 3 years.
Available at Sherwood Forest, Woburn Forest and Whinfell Forest.
Center Parcs wouldn’t be Center Parcs without our incredible forests. Our conservation teams work hard to manage and enhance the wide range of habitats that can be found at our villages, monitoring the levels of flora and fauna through important survey work and supporting our wildlife.
Wildlife at Center Parcs
You can spot hundreds of different species around our villages. This includes badgers, birds, foxes, hedgehogs, bats, ducks, otters, several species of deer, stoats, rabbits and much more! Longford Forest and Whinfell Forest are both home to the rare red squirrel – so if you’re visiting, look up into the trees to see if you can spot one!
Explore our nature activities
Build a Nature House
Encourage your child's curiosity in the natural world around them with this hand-on workshop to create a cosy nest box to take home. A great way to provide a safe haven for the birds, butterflies or ladybirds in your garden. Minimum age 4 years.
Available at all locations.
Falconers Club
Majestic, spectacular birds of prey… in our Junior Falconers’ Club you can meet, handle and fly some of these magnificent birds. Ages 6 to 11 years.
Available at Sherwood Forest, Woburn Forest and Longleat Forest.
Baby Owls
Our Baby Owls session is a great chance for you, along with little ones to enjoy meeting Pop, our very own sleepy barn owl, and some of his feathered friends in the forest. Minimum age 1 year.
Available at all locations.
Red Squirrel Family Adventure
One of the rarest and most special animals, the red squirrel is beautiful and unique. This family orientated session includes themed activities, a squirrel trail and a cuddly squirrel for each child. Suitable for all ages.
Available at Whinfell Forest.
Den Building and Decorating
Put your creative skills to the test as you design and create your very own woodland hideaway. A great way to enjoy our beautiful forest and perfect for your whole family to take part in. Minimum age 3 years.
Available at all locations.
Nature Walk
Explore our fascinating woodland and uncover the secrets of the forest. Join us as we see a variety of plants, animals, birds and insects on this informative tour with our experienced Rangers. Minimum age 4 years.
Available at all locations.
Nature Detectives
Explore the forest with our Rangers and learn about the signs to look out for when searching for woodland animals. Ages 3 to 9 years.
Available at all locations.
Common bird species
Obvious bird species to be seen are the geese, ducks and swans that call our waterways home. They may even pay a visit to your lodge!
You can spot lots of other species such as the blackbird, jay, song thrush, magpie, robin, dunnock, nuthatch and treecreeper. You may even catch a fleeting glimpse of a great spotted woodpecker or hear the hooting of tawny owls during the night hours!
Ranger Mike Hill says
"Center Parcs is an amazing and unique place to work. Combining a destination for thousands of guests taking short-breaks with an environment providing habitat for hundreds of species is challenging but extremely rewarding.
As Conservation Rangers we get involved in practical work such as habitat management and restoration as well as survey work checking on the populations of species that use the villages.
We also ensure that any work being done by colleagues and contractors is completed correctly within the relevant legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It's great to see the results of our hard work being enjoyed and utilised by our wildlife and guests alike."
Our trees
All our sites are former commercial woodlands, meaning that the trees were grown specifically for purposes such as construction. This approach does not often provide the things that wildlife needs to thrive, such as a variety of habitats and sources of food. The dominant tree species varies across our villages, but will most likely be a combination of Scots pine, Corsican pine, oak or beech.
Forest management
To help ensure the health of our trees, each village has a Forest Management Plan. The aim is to fell any damaged trees and selectively thin others, to give younger trees the sunlight and room they need to flourish and reach their potential. When these trees have matured, they enhance the landscape of the forest and provide crucial habitats for a variety of wildlife.
The extra space and light that this creates also benefits the many smaller plants and shrubs that inhabit these areas, allowing them to grow and provide food and shelter for various insects and other wildlife. Both younger and older trees benefit wildlife in various ways. Young trees provide habitats for smaller species, while older trees offer nesting sites and shelter for larger animals. Diverse tree age ranges support biodiversity, creating a healthier ecosystem by providing food for a variety of wildlife species throughout their life cycles.
Discover our vast wildlife
Scroll through our gallery of nature photos, captured by Ranger Mike.
Why choose Center Parcs for your nature break
Our forests are full of fascinating flora and fauna, giving you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a break in the heart of nature. From themed activities to nature trails to meeting new friends on your lodge patio, you’ll get the chance to learn all about the wildlife that call our forests home.
How guests can get involved
Whilst on your short break there are lots of ways for you to get involved. This could be:
- Booking onto one of the nature-based activities or even simply taking the time to explore the village, keeping a look out for anything interesting and reporting this to the Ranger team.
- Some villages actively encourage guests to keep an eye and ear out for certain species such as owls, woodpeckers and hedgehogs and to report any sightings back to them. This adds to our understanding of population and distribution of different species across the village.
- If you’d like to find out more, ask the Ranger team for more details at the Nature Centre whilst on your break with us
A family of hedgehogs loves Center Parcs too
Just outside one of our lodges at Woburn Forest, tucked behind the cycle rack, a family of six hedgehogs, with mum and her five babies.
Step into spring at Center Parcs
With spring nearly here, there’s no better time to start planning your action-packed Center Parcs break. Re-awaken your senses and connect with nature again as the forest wakes up after the long winter months.
Behind the scenes - forest secrets
Read all about what happens behind the scenes at Center Parcs. You will find colleague stories, exciting projects, nature and many other secrets.
Learn about wildlife of woodlands during the colder months
Even when the temperature drops, there are still plenty of creatures to spot at Center Parcs. Whinfell Forest’s Senior Conservation Ranger, Matthew Jeffery, tells us what to look out for
