Gateway to Nature: Construction gets underway

By Dave Lewis, Director of Operations

For many people, Wittenham Clumps is where a love of nature begins — a place of wide skies, expansive views and thousands of years of history. After many years of careful planning, Gateway to Nature has now reached a significant milestone: construction is underway.

As Director of Operations, I’ve been closely involved in shaping the practical changes that will help this special landscape welcome people more easily, while continuing to care for the nature and wildlife that make it special. Seeing plans move from page to place is a powerful moment, and one that reflects Earth Trust’s commitment to helping people and nature thrive together.

By this autumn, a new access route from Sires Hill will lead visitors to a redesigned car park close to an improved Wittenham Clumps Visitor Centre, including a new café. These changes are about removing barriers — making it easier to arrive, easier to explore, and easier to spend time in a landscape that offers space to discover and connect.

What will visitors notice this spring?

Over the coming weeks, activity on site will become more visible as construction progresses. Machinery and materials are now arriving, following months of careful preparation work.

Before construction could begin, volunteers supported essential ecological work, including safely trapping great crested newts so they can be released into our ponds.   The support of our volunteers is so key to everything we do at Earth Trust, and this is another great example.

The first noticeable change will be the establishment of a site compound along Sires Hill Road. From here, work will move steadily towards the Centre. Visitors can expect to see digging and soil movement as we shape the new access route and surrounding infrastructure.

Near the new entrance, we’ll also be creating an attenuation basin — a shallow, landscaped area designed to hold excess rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall. While this will mean a sizeable excavation for a time, it plays an important role in caring for this working landscape.

All construction areas will be fenced and clearly separated from visitors. However, for those who regularly walk near the Centre buildings, we do ask that extra care is taken during this period, particularly when larger vehicles are on site.

Visiting during construction

The team and I have planned events and activities carefully so that people can continue to enjoy the landscape throughout the construction period.

During this phase, car parking capacity will be more limited than in previous years. Event ticket availability reflects this, which means we won’t be able to offer overflow parking if events sell out. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this temporary change, knowing it supports a more welcoming and accessible future.

Looking ahead

I currently expect the first vehicle to use the new access track in September 2026. At that point, access to the Centre car park via the Hollow Way entrance in Little Wittenham village will close — a significant step towards a safe and more welcoming arrival experience.

Gateway to Nature is about more than new paths and facilities. At its heart, Gateway to Nature builds on what Earth Trust has always set out to do: to inspire a lifelong connection with the natural world.

I’ll continue to share regular updates as work progresses, alongside refreshes to our FAQ’s.