Plan your visit
Wildlife
Cambridge and beyond is a haven for wildlife, whether you are soaking in the delights of the River Cam or simply meandering through one of the many reserves or country parks which can be found in and around the city. If you are looking for something more specific then we have put together the perfect itinerary by car or train.
Tour 1
Day 1 (Train User option)
Morning
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Within the grounds of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden you can discover plants from all over the world in 40 acres of beautiful gardens and glasshouses.
Open daily from 10am, a great diversity of wildlife is actively encouraged within the Garden. This helps to make the Garden a green oasis in the City that’s great for spotting anything from dragonflies to sparrowhawks, and in fact the Garden is recognised as a ‘City wildlife site’.
The wildlife friendly approach ensures the Garden has a huge variety of birds, insects and amphibians which are often studied by researchers as well as the plant and tree collection.
As you discover this wonderful Garden, remember that this collection of over 8,000 species of plants is used for research and teaching, cared for in a Grade II registered heritage landscape.
Why not finish a wonderfully harmonious morning, with lunch in the beautiful Garden Café.
After lunch take a short walk to Cambridge Station where you can catch one of the frequent trains to Shepreth on the Cambridge to London King’s Cross Line.
Journey
Walk to Cambridge train station 10 – 15 minutes (0.6 miles)
Train journey to Shepreth: 10 – 15 minutes (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/STH.aspx)
Walk to Shepreth Wildlife Park: 5 minutes (0.2 miles)
Afternoon
Shepreth Wildlife Park
Shepreth Wildlife Park opened to the public in 1984 as a refuge for injured and orphaned animals. Since then it has become one of East Anglia’s major attractions participating in endangered breeding programmes, and raising over £200,000 for conservation projects worldwide working alongside Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity (SWCC).
Today, there are over 100 species to see and meet, with keeper talks and demonstrations throughout the day. Set in natural grounds, as well as in and outdoor play zones, warm tropical exhibits and animal encounter sessions, the park also provides lots of pre-booked unique experiences from hand-feeding the ring-tailed lemurs to coming face-to face with tigers.
For those young, inspiring minds, the education team are on hand daily at 3pm to amaze with their ‘Discovery Experience’, allowing children the opportunity to face their fears and expand their knowledge with an all-sensory, hands-on bug encounter.
Don’t miss the 2pm Tiger Talk, followed by Ruffed lemur feeding at 2:30pm, otter feeding at 3:30pm before finishing your day with a mesmerising Meerkat Talk at 4pm.
The Wildlife Park is open until 5:30pm in the Summer (April – October) and closes at 4:30pm during the Winter months (with additional Tuesday and Wednesday closing during this period).
The Shepreth Wildlife Conservation Charity ‘Hedgehog Hospital’ can also be found at this location, which rescues and re-habilitates over 600 hedgehogs every year.
Day 2 (National Trust Member option)
Morning
Wimpole Estate & Home Farm
Wimpole is one of the largest rare breed centres, set amidst an 18th-century and modern farmyard with Shire Horses, Longhorn and White Park cattle, pigs and sheep to name a few.
At the entrance of the Estate you will see livestock in the parkland, helping to fertilise and maintain the ancient parkland. On Home Farm itself you can meet a wide range of rare breed animals, goats, cattle, sheep, pigs and horses, and even have a go at becoming a young farmer yourself with milking buckets, mini tractors to drive around, a Kidbine Harvester, lots of piglets and pigs in the piggery and the popular Shire horses.
As one of the UK’s largest rare breed centres they play a key role in conserving rare and traditional breeds of livestock. The iconic White Park cattle and traditional Longhorns look at home in the traditional yard. There are also Sandy and Black pigs, small black and white Bagot goats skipping around the paddock. Visit in spring for the start of the lambing season, when rare breed ewes give birth to hundreds of lambs in the lambing sheds and fields.
Beyond the paddocks at the Farm for older children, discover the adventure playground with climbing frames, balance beams and swings; with picnic tables and chairs nestled under the trees, its a place where the whole family can all unwind. Stop for lunch and enjoy foods from one of the three catering facilities within the grounds including the Old Rectory Restaurant, Farm Café or the Stable Kitchen (Open throughout the Summer and on selected days during the winter)
Parking available on-site for £2.
Journey
Drive time: 40 – 45 minutes (27.6 miles)
Afternoon
Wicken Fen Nature Reserve
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve owned by the National Trust. The landscape is a unique remnant of undrained fenland which once covered the vast lowlands of East Anglia. Today Wicken Fen is one of Europe’s most important wetlands with over 9000 recorded species.
Launched in 1999, the Wicken Fen Vision is an ambitious 100 year landscape-scale conservation project to expand the nature reserve right down to the outskirts of Cambridge.
The reserve is home to an amazing range of seasonal wildlife from warblers, cuckoos, marsh harriers & dragonflies in spring & summer, to wildfowl, short-eared owls, and hen harriers, Britain’s rarest bird of prey in autumn & winter.
You can explore the reserve on foot, bike or boat. The Boardwalk Trail around the historic heart of the reserve is ideally suited to wheelchair or pushchair users and the two wildlife hides on the route have wheelchair access.
The Reserve is open daily from dawn to dusk, with the Visitor Centre, Shop and Café open daily from 10am – 5pm. Boat trips exploring the local waterways run up to 4 times a day from Easter to October. Cycle Hire open daily, Easter to October, 10 -5pm (last hire 3pm).
Dogs are welcome on leads
Admission fee payable (NT Members Free).
Parking is available on a pay & display basis.
Tour 2 (Car Users only)
Day 1
Morning
Wimpole Estate
For further details please see Option 1
Journey
Drive time: 10 – 15 minutes (5.6 miles)
Afternoon
Shepreth Wildlife Park
Free parking available on-site.
For further details please see Option 1
Day 2
Morning
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
We would encourage visitors to make use of the Trumpington Park and Ride facility.
Pay and Display parking bays are situated on the west side of Trumpington Road, opposite the gardens.
For further details please see Option 1
Journey
Drive time: 25 – 30 minutes (10.5 miles)
Afternoon
Wicken Fen
For further details please see Option 1
