Tucked between the River Nene and the Nene Valley Railway, just west of Peterborough city centre, Woodston Ponds is a peaceful 8.9-hectare Local Nature Reserve that offers an unexpected escape into nature. Once used as settling ponds by the British Sugar Factory, the site has been transformed by the Wildlife Trust into a rich patchwork of reedbeds, open water, grassland, and scrub, teeming with wildlife.
The western reedbeds are alive with dragonflies, great crested newts, and secretive water birds, while the eastern lake and viewing platform give tranquil views of grey herons, pochards, and the occasional flash of a kingfisher. In spring and summer, the air is filled with birdsong from reed warblers, whitethroats, and willow warblers, and in the evenings bats swoop low over the water. Accessible boardwalks and well-marked trails make this an easy-to-explore site for all ages, and its proximity to the city makes it a perfect short escape for a lunchtime walk or weekend wander.