Exhibitions

NOTE: Due to re-development some of the exhibitions may be closed. If you have a specific inerest in mind please phone to check.

To interpret the work of the reserve and other wildlife themes a number of indoor centres have been established. These are an excellent resource for education in addition to being of interest to all visitors.

  • The INFORMATION CENTRE provides an introduction to the many habitats that can be seen at College Lake and throughout the Chilterns. There is also a replica of a complete Mammoth's tusk found during excavation

  • The BEE CENTRE shows the lifecycle of bees and their importance to other wildlife. 
       

  • The FARMING AND WILDLIFE EXHIBITION contrasts old and new farming methods and their effect on wildlife. From the end of the trail visit the Arable Weed Project - two plots farmed as in the early 1900's with the aim of encouraging arable weeds.

    

  • The WILDLIFE GARDEN  has herbs, cornfield flowers, grassland flowers, a cottage garden, and a woodland. The Wildlife Garden Centre shows how you can make your garden a sanctuary for wildlife
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  • The THE SHEPHERD'S HUT  is an example of the living accommodation for a shepherd in the 19th century. It was hard, physical work with flocks having to be moved daily so the shepherd needed to have somewhere to eat, rest and sleep.  The shepherd's hut provides a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, sitting room and storeroom all rolled into one. 
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  • The GEOLOGY CENTRE has exhibits about chalk formation, the ice age features of College Lake, and cement production.
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  • The BIRD CENTRE Like all animals the type of birds that visit an area depends on the habitat. This display shows how the many habitats on the reserve attract a large variety of birds.
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  • The WOODLAND CENTRE illustrates the use of Chiltern woodlands and the effect that use by man has on the ecology of the woods
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  • The DOWNLAND CENTRE is built around a small area of species rich downland turf rescued from Pitstone Hill in the 1980's and managed to conserve the flora of the turf. A recent survey recorded 68 species of herbs and grasses.
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  • The WETLAND CENTRE shows many wetland habitiats. It has a pond, a fen, a bog and a dew pond.
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