Pensthorpe

Pensthorpe Pensthorpe is the ultimate destination for discovery, an action packed day out for the whole family

Enjoy an exhilarating family day out at multiple WINNER of Norfolk's Best Large Attraction! Adventurous families can join 'Hootz' the owl on a fascinating journey around his magical natural world discovering stamp stations, larger than life bugs on the bug walk and a mirror trail. Let the kids run wild in WildRootz outdoor adventure play and come in for an epic indoor adventure in Hootz House indo

or play. Encompassing 200 acres of woodland walks, nature trails, four stunning gardens and one of the largest Wildflower Meadows in Norfolk, there is something for everyone at Pensthorpe Natural Park. The former home of BBC Springwatch (2008 - 2010) is a perfect natural haven for some of the UK's rarest and most endangered wildlife. Even if you haven't got time to explore the wonders of the Natural Park, the Gift Shop is brimming full of unique gifts and homewares and the Courtyard Cafe serves delicious home-cooked food and daily specials. Enjoy ample free parking and free admission to the Shop and Cafe.

👀 Take a bird’s-eye look at what’s planned for the Wetland Ambassador Project!These new visuals bring our vision to life...
07/09/2026

👀 Take a bird’s-eye look at what’s planned for the Wetland Ambassador Project!

These new visuals bring our vision to life, showing how the transformed area could look from above... from larger, enriched crane and flamingo habitats to immersive boardwalks, accessible pathways and exciting new viewing spaces.

At the heart of the plans is the wellbeing of our birds, alongside more opportunities for visitors to experience, understand and connect with wetland wildlife. The project will also introduce year-round learning facilities, places to pause and enjoy the surroundings, and improved spaces supporting animal care and biosecurity.

There’s plenty to discover in the images... swipe for a closer look. 🌿🦩

With your help, we can turn this vision into a thriving home for wildlife and an inspiring place for generations of visitors.

💚 Support the Wetland Ambassador Project:
https://www.justgiving.com/charity/pensthorpetrust

September is settling in, and the café is only getting cosier. 🍂Think warm cups, comforting corners and a delicious brea...
07/09/2026

September is settling in, and the café is only getting cosier. 🍂

Think warm cups, comforting corners and a delicious breakfast waiting for you - the perfect place to slow down as the season begins to turn. ☕ ✨

📣 The corncrakes are back!We’re delighted to welcome three corncrakes - two males and one female - to our wader aviary.!...
06/09/2026

📣 The corncrakes are back!

We’re delighted to welcome three corncrakes - two males and one female - to our wader aviary.!

The birds have come to Pensthorpe for their retirement after taking part in the breeding project at ✨

Corncrakes have always been firm favourites with our visitors, so it’s wonderful to have them here again, especially as these are the first males in the aviary for five years.

They’re settling into their new home now, so keep your eyes peeled during your next visit. 👀

We'll be sharing more information about our newest residents next week 😊

Term time is back… and so are Messy Mornings! 🎨🫧Let your little ones squish, splash, paint and play with a different sel...
06/09/2026

Term time is back… and so are Messy Mornings! 🎨🫧

Let your little ones squish, splash, paint and play with a different selection of messy activities each week - without having to clean up afterwards!

📅 Monday–Friday
⏰ 10am–12 noon
⭐ Members can join from 9.30am
🎟️ Included in your entry price

Come along, get stuck in and make a marvellous mess! 💚

05/09/2026

A quieter season awaits… 🍂🌿

With peaceful surroundings, fewer crowds and term-time pricing, now is the perfect time to slow down, reconnect with nature and enjoy the site at your own pace.

Come and discover a little peace and tranquillity.

05/09/2026

Our Play Team captured this hummingbird hawk-moth on the move just outside Hootz House. 🪻

We’ve seen so many in the gardens this year, we’re tempted to start a daily spot count!

Anyone got a record number seen in one day? 🦋

🌿 The Gardener's Diary | August 2026 🌿August has brought another spell of hot, dry weather, keeping our gardening team b...
04/09/2026

🌿 The Gardener's Diary | August 2026 🌿

August has brought another spell of hot, dry weather, keeping our gardening team busier than ever as they work to keep Pensthorpe looking its best.

Here's a look at what they've been up to this month...

💧 Keeping the gardens thriving
Another heatwave has meant plenty of watering to help our gardens through the driest weeks of the summer. While the welcome arrival of a few heavy showers offered some relief, careful irrigation has continued to keep our plants healthy and flourishing.

🌱 New life behind the scenes
Our nursery is now full of plants from the RHS Sandringham Flower Show, where they're being carefully nurtured before finding a permanent home in the Pollywiggle Garden next spring. Meanwhile, the planting in our Biosonification Garden is beginning to establish beautifully, creating an even more natural feel.

🌻 A feast for wildlife
The Corten Garden is now at its seasonal peak, with towering sunflowers and vibrant dahlias providing a spectacular display. It's also become a favourite stop for bees, seed-eating birds and even the occasional Hummingbird Hawk-moth, while we're fairly certain the squirrels have been helping themselves to a few sunflower seeds too...

🌾 The Millennium Garden's grand finale
August is when the Millennium Garden truly comes into its own. While the colourful Echinacea and Salvias often steal the spotlight, it's the elegant ornamental grasses that quietly put on one of the finest displays of the year. Their graceful movement and feathery seed heads bring a beautiful sense of texture as summer begins its slow transition towards autumn.

Here's hoping September brings a little more rain for the gardens – and a few more sunny days for our visitors to enjoy them.

See you next month for another edition of The Gardener's Diary. 💚

🦩So... is 50 the magic number? ✨Flamingos are incredibly social birds. In the wild, they can gather in enormous flocks, ...
04/09/2026

🦩So... is 50 the magic number? ✨

Flamingos are incredibly social birds. In the wild, they can gather in enormous flocks, sometimes numbering in the thousands, and being surrounded by other flamingos plays an important role in encouraging natural behaviours – including courtship and breeding.

In captivity, around 50 flamingos is often considered something of a 'magic number' for breeding. A larger flock helps create the social environment and sense of security that can encourage those all-important courtship displays and nesting behaviours.

That's particularly relevant to the story of our flock here at Pensthorpe. Around eight years ago, we had approximately 20–25 Greater Flamingos. We made the decision to grow the flock and create a dedicated enclosure with breeding in mind, giving them the opportunity to display more of those natural behaviours and, hopefully, rear chicks of their own.

And we're not stopping there. Through the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust's Wetland Ambassador Project, we're fundraising to make further improvements to our flamingo habitat, including better winter welfare facilities - helping us continue to provide the best possible environment for the flock for years to come. 💚

And as anyone who followed this year's nesting season will know, there's now plenty of flamingo family life to see! 🥚🦩

So while two might be company for us, when you're a flamingo...

50 is much more your kind of party. 🎉🦩

🏆 August's Cover Photo Winner! 🏆Congratulations to Sandi Danielle Monger, whose beautiful photograph of a family of Barn...
03/09/2026

🏆 August's Cover Photo Winner! 🏆

Congratulations to Sandi Danielle Monger, whose beautiful photograph of a family of Barn Swallows has been voted our August Cover Photo Winner by the Pensthorpe team! 👏📸

Capturing a fleeting moment as young swallows eagerly await their next meal, this image perfectly celebrates the energy and beauty of summer wildlife at Pensthorpe.
As our August winner, Sandi's photograph will take pride of place as our Facebook cover photo throughout September and will also be entered into our Cover Photo of the Year competition. Best of luck! 🏆

📸 Fancy seeing your photo featured next month?

Join our Pensthorpe Photos Facebook group and upload your favourite shots from around the reserve. Every month, our team chooses a winning image to become our Facebook cover photo, with every monthly winner automatically earning a place in our Cover Photo of the Year competition.

We can't wait to see what you capture next! 🌿🦜

Address

Fakenham Road
Fakenham
NR210LN

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441328851465

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