The nature reserve at Rutland Water occupies a narrow strip of land running for 9 miles around the western end of the water and covering a total of 600 acres.

At the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre there is a visitor Centre, three shallow lagoons, meadows and plantation woodland and also the Rutland Environment Education Centre with a large well-equipped classroom/conference room.

The Reserve provides one of the most important wildfowl sanctuaries in Great Britain, regularly holding in excess of 20,000 water fowl. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a European Special Protection Area and internationally recognised as a globally important wetland site.

In 1996 Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust began a translocation programme to re-establish Ospreys here and in 2001 saw the first Osprey chick to fledge in Central England for 150 years.

Open daily 9am - 5pm (closing 4pm Nov-Feb)