Loch of the Lowes most visited nature reserve – On Wildlife Extra

Osprey are the main attraction of many at the Loch of the Lowes. Credit Michael Davison/SWT

January 2010. Wildlife Extra (WE) were looking through some boring figures and statistics about our website, and we came across the following. Wildlife Extra now lists more than 900 UK nature reserves and other wildlife hotspots, and during the last year the following reserves have been the most visited.

Loch of the Lowes nature reserve,  by the Scottish Wildllife Trust is way ahead in top place, almost entirely prompted by the ospreys that breed there. Few people visited from September to April, but then, prompted by Britain's oldest osprey laying her 53rd egg, it was very popular during the spring and summer.

Thursley Common National Nature Reserve, in a strong second place, had much more even traffic throughout the year, with a large spike on one day in April. Similarly Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve had steady visits throughout the year.

Hampshire is the top county
Hampshire scores with three reserves in the top fifteen, with adjacent Surrey and lovely Somerset both with 2.

To see our guide to the wildlife of the UK, click the relevant region below.