If you love, nature, wildlife and being outdoors, then Pensthorpe Nature Reserve & Gardens is the place for you. It's a fantastic day out with loads to do. Come and look at our huge range of common and rare birds from sparrows to Red Crowned Cranes, with their long legs and colourful plumage. You can also feed the ducks and geese on the lake.

But there's more to Pensthorpe than birds. We've recently opened a new red squirrel enclosure for our breeding pair, which is part of a conservation programme. These wonderful creatures have had four baby kittens, which you can see as they leap around and get used to their new home.

There are loads of other things to do at Pensthorpe. You can use our new WOW Activity Booklet, which is packed with fun and informative facts, as you go around the reserve. Or you can take a Landrover Wensum Discovery Tour, have a go at pond dipping, become a Bug Detective, or check out the remains of a Wholly Mammoth which were dug up on the site!

Pensthorpe's Courtyard Café serves locally sourced home-cooked food. All meals are cooked freshly to order. The Café makes a great lunch venue even when you don't have time to visit the Park. It is a superb place to stop for tea, coffees and delicious cakes and pastries.

Vegetarian and wholefood choices

The Pensthorpe Gift Shop is full of exciting and unusual gifts and sophisticated household accessories. Here you can find books for gardeners, children, nature lovers and bird watchers; a wide range of bird feeders, nesting boxes, tables and bird food; and children's wooden and traditional toys.

Beautiful homewares include glassware, ceramics and ornaments. There is stationery for every occasion and a wide selection of cards; indulgent and delightfully aromatic toiletries; and cosy jumpers and pretty scarves.

Quality food gifts include local sweets and honey.

Male, female and disabled toilet, plus baby-changing facilities around cafe and shop, but not around the reserve itself.

Pensthorpe is situated one mile outside the market town of Fakenham, just off the main A1067 Fakenham to Norwich Road. Accessible by bus – the X29 which goes from Fakenham to Pensthorpe to Norwich.

Dress for the outdoors in sensible shoes and nothing too smart. Bring a raincoat in case of showers. Make sure you come for the whole day because there is so much to see and do.

Easy access parking for visitors with disabilities.

Shop, café and viewing gallery are wheelchair accessible.

Wheelchairs are available in the shop for onsite use.

Wheelchair and pushchair accessible trails.

We've just spent a great afternoon at Pensthorpe, and the kids really enjoyed it. The birds seemed really well looked after and live in beautiful surroundings - the new red squirrel enclosure was really well done as well. We bought a few bags of land and water food which the kids loved feeding to all the beautiful birds - what a great afternoon - we'll certainly be going back later in the summer. - Rob / May 2009

http://www.pensthorpe.com