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Walk the Boards fundraising campaign

Help us to help everyone step into nature

Picture an accessible boardwalk winding through our reedbeds, a solid step-free bridge over a river inlet, and a nature reserve where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can enjoy the outdoors. At Withymead Nature Reserve, this vision is just within reach, but we need your help.

Our boardwalks are an important part of the reserve. They allow our visitors to explore the unique plants and wildlife that call Withymead home. A place where Thames-side boat building once thrived, it is a place for joyful exploration and a sanctuary for all who seek solace in nature.

Yet the last section of our old, narrow boardwalk and bridge makes it difficult for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs, and those with limited mobility to access the whole reserve. It’s also reached the end of its life. By replacing and improving this vital pathway, we can ensure that every visitor experiences the freedom and joy of being outdoors, without barriers.

We need to raise £115,104 to make it happen. Can you help?

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Enjoy your local nature reserve

Withymead is special: an oasis of riverside wildness; a haven for plants and wildlife; a place where Thames-side boat building once thrived. The 13-acre reserve was established by Anne Carpmael, a keen naturalist who lived at Withymead for nearly 60 years. Anne bequeathed the site as a special place for the community, and to inspire an appreciation of nature especially among young people. It opened in 2004.

Discover Withymead

Help conserve our natural heritage

Withymead is a gem. Which we want to share with you.

We have a volunteer team who help with conservation and events, and new volunteers with general or specialist skills are always welcome.

What unites everyone who visits Withymead is their deep and profound connection with this special place by the Thames.

Volunteer with us

We are now closed until early April 2026

Thank you to everyone who visited us during the summer months. We have loved welcoming you! We are now closed for the winter season. Work on the reserve and behind the scenes never stops. Excitingly we are now focusing our efforts on fundraising to replace the old, worn out footbridge and remaining 60 metres of boardwalk with a new step-free footbridge and accessible boardwalk. Plus our regular on-site conservation tasks continue. Find out more here

Visits can still be made out of season, by appointment only and subject to the availability of our wardens, and volunteers are always welcome. Head over to the contact us page. We open again April/Easter 2026 for spring and summer open days, afternoons and special events, plus exclusive bookable visits.

Entrance to Withymead is free unless it is for commercial hire. Please consider donating to support our conservation work.

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Spotlights and updates

30th March 2025

Spotlight | Bring on the Blue Banded Demoiselle

The blue banded demoiselle, or Calopteryx splendens, is a captivating damselfly that graces the banks of slow-flowing streams and rivers across Eurasia. With its striking appearance and fascinating behaviours, this damselfly is one of the first to emerge and can often be seen in April and May.

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A large cream with buttercream icing stands on a glass cake stand in the foreground, with a ginger loaf cake and an apricot and pistachio cake just behind in the background. They are ready to be sliced and enjoyed!

28th March 2026

Events | 28 Mar 10am – 12.30pm ‘Withymead on Tour’ Saturday Morning Community Coffee Shop, Woodcote

We’re going on tour! Help us meet our fundraising target of £115k to complete our accessible boardwalk and install a new step-free bridge by joining us at the Woodcote Community Coffee Shop 10am-12.30pm, on Saturday 28 Mar.

We’ll have our delicious signature cakes and bakes, tea and coffee for sale, plus second-hand books, merchandise, and a really great raffle too.

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