Things to do in West Coker, Somerset

Visiting West Coker Fen in early summer can feel like you have stepped back in time. These flower rich damp pastures are a remnant of an older landscape when farming was far less intensive. The reserve consists of three fields on gently sloping land that are bordered by two streams.

A hidden gem in west Dorset. This is home to some of Dorset's best loved species including dormice, otters and woodpeckers.

We are eager to have you join us again this year at our pumpkin patch! Open October 2024: 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th & 24th - 31st

Two attractive areas of ancient woodland, including a small flower-rich meadow at Adam's Green

Available on selected dates in October - please call 01935 413027 for information.

Set amidst winding country lanes, delightful rivers and superb, unspoilt countryside, Kingcombe Visitor Centre is a place to relax and be inspired. Spend some time exploring our wildlife-friendly gardens, orchards, bird hide and the boardwalk along the edge of the tranquil River Hooke. Visit the Kitchen at Kingcombe (open Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm) for refreshments , cake or a light lunch or enjoy your picnic anywhere in the visitor centre grounds. Kingcombe Visitor Centre is the gateway to the stunning Kingcombe National Nature Reserve, incorporating Kingcombe Meadows and Powerstock Common nature reserves, where you can enjoy exploring the unspoilt countryside and ancient woodland.

Gateway to the Kingcombe National Nature Reserve (KNNR), Kingcombe Meadows offers the opportunity to step back in time on a traditional working farm complete with flower rich grassland, ancient hedgerows, rough pasture and wet woodlands. The hedgerows, fields and hay meadows are almost untouched by artificial fertilisers and pesticides. As a result they are home to a huge array of wildlife, some common and easy to see, others rare elsewhere in the UK. At the heart of the nature reserve lies the Kingcombe Visitor Centre - find out more information about the centre on our Visitor Centre page.

A mixture of mature woodland, offering superb views of South Somerset

South Hill is situated just north of Long Sutton off the A372 and is an area of calcareous grassland and scrub blocks. The soils that have developed since the quarrying ceased are very shallow which has encouraged a diverse flora to develop.

A peaceful woodland site once used as a place for reflection by monks from the Hillfield Friary

A hidden, steep sided valley bounded by river and hedgerow.

Steep wildflower rich grassland and wet woodland, within a hidden valley.

A site brimming with wildlife and a sense of the wild.

One of the best examples of limestone downland and scrub in Somerset. One of the jewels in the crown of this reserve is the Large Blue Butterfly, declared extinct in Britain in 1979, it has since been reintroduced as part of a long term conservation programme.