Graves Park

The wetland stretches out flat and open, with reed beds catching the wind and water reflecting an enormous sky. Graves Park is a proper working nature reserve just outside Boston, and it's the sort of place where you come to watch birds rather than rush through. Bring binoculars and patience.

What you get here depends entirely on the season. Winter brings visiting wildfowl - wigeon, pintail, the occasional rarer duck that gets twitchers excited. Spring and autumn are migration periods when the boards and hides get busy with birdwatchers. Summer is quieter but the light is lovely across the water, and dragonflies are everywhere if you know where to look.

It's not a place for small children who need constant stimulation. If your kids are old enough to sit still for twenty minutes and actually want to spot something, they'll be fine. Family groups, serious birders, and photographers all get something from it, but you need to be there for the right reasons - namely, wildlife.

There's no tea room or visitor centre, so come prepared. Paths are manageable but can be muddy, and there's limited parking. Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushed, longer if you're serious about identification. It's the sort of morning or evening visit that complements a holiday at Appletree Holiday Park four miles away rather than fills a whole day. Worth the detour if birds matter to you.