Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust Ticket Portal

In the face of huge international declines, here at Berry Head we are extremely privileged to have a small colony of Greater Horsehoe bats roosting in caves in the limestone quarry. 

Join us for a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of one of Britain's largest bats and listen to their otherworldly echolocation calls via our bat detectors. You will also learn more about their ecology, the reasons for their decline and what the Trust is doing to help this species. 

We aim to foster a greater appreciation for the natural wonders on your doorstep and encourage personal actions of support.

Dates and times:

Thursday 29 May 8:00pm - 9:30pm 

Thursday 19 June 8:30pm - 10:00pm 

Thursday 31 July 8:00pm  -9:30pm

Thursday 28 August 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Meeting point: Berry Head main car park, arrive at the start time. 

Suitable for: Adults and children over 12. children aged 12-17 must attend with a full paying Adult. 

Additional info: Booking essential. Sorry no dogs. Please bring clothing to match the weather and sturdy footwear.

Cost; £10 non Trust Members, £8 Trust Members.

Join Mike Langman at Hope’s Nose this autumn, a popular birdwatching location to see both resident and migrating birds. Birds we will be looking out for include migrating thrushes and chats in the scrub, rare seabirds to wintering sea ducks or divers in the sea, and gulls, waders and guillemots on the seashore, rocks and islands. Mike is a renowned wildlife artist and bird watcher (see www.mikelangman.co.uk).

Sunday 5th October, 7.30am - 10am 

Meeting point: Meet at the entrance to Hope’s Nose Grid reference SX944635.

Suitable for: 14 yrs old +

Additional info:  The best place to park is the top of Ilsham Marine Drive, Torquay close to the entrance to Hope’s Nose.

Please bring with you binoculars, telescope and tripod (not essential) if you have one, stout footwear, warm and waterproof clothing.

Join bird expert Mike Langman on an early morning excursion followed by a delicious cooked breakfast at Occombe Farm Cafe.

May is a great time to listen to the dawn chorus, so many birds will be busy singing to attract a mate and announce their territory.

After enjoying the initial cacophony of sound we’ll concentrate on sorting out the various bird songs, and how and why they are so different.

A tour of the nature trail should include some of the slow risers in the bird world that sing later in the morning. Arriving back at the café at 8.00 for a breakfast (vegetarian option available) and a hot cup of tea or coffee.    

Numbers are limited so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment. Sorry no dogs and adults only please. 

Date: Tuesday 4th November, 7.15am - 10:15am (includes time for breakfast starting at 9am)
Location: Berry Head National Nature Reserve

A great opportunity to immerse yourself in nature with an informative walk led by local bird expert Mike Langman. 

Early November can produce some of the most spectacular overhead movements of birds but only early in the morning. Given the right conditions thousands of birds could be on the move in huge flocks, Redwings and Fieldfare freshly arriving back from their breeding grounds of Scandinavia are joined by loose flocks of and Wood Pigeons. 

There should be a supporting cast of finches including Brambling, pipits and you just never know what else might turn up, perhaps a passing Ring Ouzel, Short-eared Owl, Merlin or a Woodcock. Mike will guide you through what is going on and help identify these birds by shape and calls. 

The early start optimises our chances of witnessing migration at its best. At about 9.15am after a good morning’s birdwatching we’ll warm ourselves up at the Guardhouse Café with a hearty full breakfast and tea/coffee

Meet: Berry Head National Nature Reserve main car park
Cost: £35 Non Members, £30 Members (Include a delicious cooked breakfast at Guardhouse Cafe). 

Celebrating the Cirl with wildlife expert Mike Langman and Engagement Officer Marije Zwager

Wednesday 16th July  10am – 3.30pm  

Berry Head is home to one of Britain’s rarest birds the Cirl Bunting, but it’s not always been the case. Devon is not only the most important county for this rare bunting but historically also boasts its discovery in Britain.

Join local bird expert Mike Langman and Berry Head Engagement Officer Marije Zwager to watch and learn about the Cirl Bunting - its lifestyle, history, demise and spectacular recovery. We’ll spend time searching for the buntings that are resident on the headland and we’ll explore the work Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust are doing to protect this vulnerable species. During the day there will be a mix of short indoor presentations in the artillery store building and outside study.     

We’ll of course look at other fascinating wildlife around the headland during the day. We will walk approximately 2miles during the day over mostly flat ground but will venture into the meadows.

Free tea and coffee will be available in the artillery store building. There will be an hour break around 12.30 so bring a packed lunch and sit outside if the weather is fine to watch seabirds or porpoises from the headland. Or you could pop over to the Guardhouse Café for a meal, cake or drink.

With over 40 years of study at Berry Head Mike knows the likely whereabouts of not only the birds but also other wildlife around this National Nature Reserve.

Evening beginners birdwatching walk with wildlife expert Mike Langman

Monday 14th July 7pm – 9.30pm  

Do you want to learn more about the birds seen and heard around Cockington Country park? Well here’s a chance to join local bird expert Mike Langman for a leisurely guided stroll around the meadows and woodlands to pick up some identification tips. 

The variety of formal and natural parkland at Cockington and its woodlands provide a home for lots of common and not so common birds. A summer evening is a good time to explore as the birds become a little more active just before dusk. There will be plenty of bird calls and song to get to grips with too, or you could just enjoy the sights and sounds which Mike will guide you through.

Children welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The walk will be about 1.5 miles on footpaths, there are some fairly steep inclines.    

Booking essential £20 for non members and £15 for members. 

Meet:  Cockington information centre   https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cockington+Visitor+Centre/@50.4639716,-3.559453,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x486d0f9ec808dae7:0x7c4330dbaee2573b!8m2!3d50.4639716!4d-3.559453!16s%2Fg%2F11gvz8rb9m?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Bring: binoculars, note pad, bottle of water, wear stout shoes and be prepared for any weather! There are deer ticks at Cockington, so long trousers are recommended.

Enjoy breakfast at the Guardhouse Cafe and a wildlife stroll around Berry Head led by wildlife expert Mike Langman. 

Join Mike and learn about the south coast’s largest Guillemot colony that should be bustling with life. We’ll have a close look at the colony, its history and future, plus the amazing adaptations enabling the Guillemot also known locally as the ‘Brixham Penguin’ to survive at sea and on the cliffs. Perhaps with some searching we’ll find it’s close relative the Razorbill and compare the species side by side.  

We’ll take a look off the end of the headland the mixing of currents from Torbay and Lyme Bay always attracts not only the feeding Guillemots but other wildlife too. Depending on conditions on the day this might include Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal or seabirds like Gannet, Manx Shearwater or even a Puffin. The breeding Fulmars in the quarry are always a favourite cackling to each other as arriving birds make several false landing attempts.  

With over 40 years of study at Berry Head Mike knows the likely whereabouts of not only the birds and other wildlife around this National Nature Reserve.

Join Mike on a stroll around Berry Head learn about the south coast’s largest Guillemot colony that should be bustling with life. We’ll have a close look at the colony, its history and future, plus the amazing adaptations enabling the Guillemot also known locally as the ‘Brixham Penguin’ to survive at sea and on the cliffs. Perhaps with some searching we’ll find it’s close relative the Razorbill and compare the species side by side.  

We’ll take a look off the end of the headland the mixing of currents from Torbay and Lyme Bay always attracts not only the feeding Guillemots but other wildlife too. Depending on conditions on the day this might include Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal or seabirds like Gannet, Manx Shearwater or even a Puffin. The breeding Fulmars in the quarry are always a favourite cackling to each other as arriving birds make several false landing attempts.  

With over 40 years of study at Berry Head Mike knows the likely whereabouts of not only the birds and other wildlife around this National Nature Reserve.

Grow & Learn: Community Gardening Session

Want to inspire the next generation of green-fingered growers? Join us for a hands-on gardening session in our community gardens.

What’s in store?

• Learn about seed planting and watering
• Get involved with weeding and using gardening tools
• Help prepare our vegetable plots for the season ahead
• Plant your own seeds to take home and watch grow

A great opportunity to connect with nature and develop gardening skills in a friendly, welcoming environment.