Our response to Coronavirus

Our response to Coronavirus

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is urging people to enjoy local wildlife and maintain a connection with nature to help boost their wellbeing, whilst remaining mindful of guidance.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is led by the latest Government announcements about the roadmap out of a national lockdown. Like everybody else, we’ve had to adapt to changes and new challenges to the way we operate. We are still working hard to deliver nature’s recovery in our county – just finding new ways to do it during the pandemic. 

All GWT nature reserves remain open. Please check the individual nature reserve pages before travelling – car parks will be open unless stated otherwise on these pages. Please visit nature reserves with sensitivity and care, making sure to adhere to current government guidelines around social distancing.

Our Robinswood Hill and Crickley Hill cafes are open and we have reintroduced some measures to minimise any risk to both our customers and staff. We are serving a full menu from the hatch only and would ask all customers to wear a mask whilst ordering. The interior of the cafes are closed currently for customer use. The cafés are now cashless sites and we encourage customers to pay using contactless where possible. Our staff are washing their hands between customers and before touching food, surfaces, the till, and all other touchpoints. We also have strict clearing regimes at the beginning and end of every day. We do ask that when customers are queuing they maintain social distancing, and please do not move any tables, both indoors or outdoors, as they have been positioned specifically to allow for social distancing.

The toilets at Crickley Hill are open during café hours and are being deep cleaned daily. Please observe social distancing when using the facilities and wash your hands thoroughly. We have installed hand sanitising stations and please do use these as well. 

The Discovery Barn at Greystones Farm and the Hub at Crickley Hill are both open, available staff or volunteers permitting. Please be aware that interactive activities may not be available and only one family, or social bubble, may enter the visitor centres at any one time. We have provided hand sanitising stations and please use these before and after entering the visitor centres. 

All our reserves have become much busier since lockdown as people spend more time exploring the local area and finding peace in nature. Most of our sites are large enough that you will have no problem exploring at your own pace and with the ability to socially distance. Please make sure that you follow social distancing and hand washing guidelines when using any facilities.

Where it is possible for us to safely allow visitors to use hides, we have made these available again. Please visit individual reserve webpages before your visit for the most up to date advice. 

We have a mobility ‘tramper’ available for hire at Crickley Hill. This all terrain electric scooter is a great way to enjoy the accessible, circular trail. Due to new Covid19 health and safety measurements, the tramper is available only to the Countryside Mobility members at the moment. To ensure availability, the tramper must be booked in advance minimum 48 hours by emailing info@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.

If you want to use it on the weekend, please email us by midday on Thursday prior to the weekend.

The tramper is available between 9:30am and 4pm. The hiring cost is £5 for half day (available between 09:30am and 12:30 am and 1pm and 4pm).

Thank you for all your support, and please take care.

Roger Mortlock, Chief Executive

A butterfly on a pink flower

Vaughn Matthews

Your support is greatly appreciated

Please donate to support us during this time