Hannah Gray gets the lowdown on where to go.

WE all know that we should put down the TV remotes and get out and re-connect with nature a bit more, but it isn't always easy.

It can be hard to think of places to visit, and if you want to spot some wee beasties but don't know your sparrows from your sandpipers, nature's wonder can often pass you by as you struggle to identify what you're looking at.

The ET, along with the Wildlife Trust have put together a guide to Wildlife Trust reserves in the Peterborough area, and you may well find yourself surprised by what you can see and where.

The Wildlife Trust's community wildlife officer for Peterborough Rachel Price said it is incredibly important to pay a visit to nature reserves.

She said: "Visiting such sites is vital for all of us. Nature reserves provide green lungs for the city, and quiet places away from the hustle and bustle to relax and de-stress.

"Numerous studies have shown that wildlife-rich green spaces are vital for mental and physical health and well being.

"They provide places for children to play and for us all to encounter nature first hand."

Green spaces around Peterborough:

• Thorpe Wood


• Dogsthorpe Star Pit and Little Wood


• Stanground Newt Ponds and Wash


• Stanground Wash


• Cuckoo's Hollow


• Wansford Pasture


• Woodston Ponds


• Southorpe Meadow and Paddock


• Lattersey Pits

If you like organised visits, The Wildlife Trust has two projects running. The first is Wild Play, which has been set up to provide play and adventure experiences on nature reserves for children and young people, such as shelter building, orienteering, crafts and art activities.

The project is supported by the BIG Lottery Fund. For more information, contact Becky.naman@wildlifebcnp.org

Go Wild, supported by Perkins, provides opportunities through outreach, school visits and community events for communities to come together and enjoy wildlife on their doorstep. For more information, contact rachel.price@wildlifebcnp.org

Learn more about local sites, visit www.wildlifebcnp.org for a map and location of all the trust's reserves, plus opportunities to get involved, volunteer, visit a reserve independently or as part of an event, or to improve you wildlife skills through wildlife training workshops.