Saltwells Local Nature Reserve

Saltwells Local Nature Reserve is one of the UK's largest urban Nature Reserves at a whopping 247 acres including a wide range of habitats great for exploring and nature spotting: woodlands, grasslands, heath land and wetlands plus way marked Nature and Sculpture Trails if you're nervous about getting lost… given the size of the place a reasonable concern! It's a wonderful place to go looking for mini beasts particularly around the Daphne Pool area, where they regularly have 16 differing species of dragonfly! Possibly a spot to avoid with kids who dislike bugs as the dragonflies get rather large!

Doulton's Claypit offers spectacular cliff views and oodles of wild orchids and there are swathes of bluebells throughout the woodland areas, where if you know what you're doing you can also forage wild garlic to put in your dinner! It's a point of interest to mention to the kids that the whole place was planted to hide the ravaged landscape after extensive coal mining! Plenty of secret schooling to be had here if they're interested and you have the facts to hand!