Partial Solar Eclipse and Indian Thali Feast
12th August 2026
Enjoy this major celestial event at the peaceful surroundings of the Nature Discovery Centre.
Their friends from Newbury Astronomical Society will have their scopes set-up on the cafe patio area and the visitor centre will be fully open for visitors.
Their much loved cafe cook, Santhi, will be bringing her authentic Indian home-cooking style to their cafe for this first evening supper.
Don’t miss out on experiencing this incredible Thali Feast, which can be ordered on the night.
Rice pilaf, vegetable curry, courgette & onion bhaji, carrot raita, chapati, chana masala or spiced chicken skewers.
£13 (chana) / £15 (chicken)
The eclipse is due to begin at 6pm and finish by 8pm.
The main car-park gates will remain open until 10pm.
Event is free, no booking required.
Dogs
NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE
THE NATURE DISCOVERY CENTRE OFFERS A GREAT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY
We all need nature – for clean water, food and fresh air – but nature needs us too.
Their mission is to bring about nature’s recovery by inspiring and empowering local people and partners to help bring nature back.
The Nature Discovery Centre is surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats with fantastic wildlife to see all year around, packed full of interactive wildlife and natural history displays.
There is a network of footpaths ranging from small family-friendly walks to longer paths for the more adventurous.
Surrounded by a mosaic of different habitats, there is fantastic wildlife to see all year round.
During the autumn and winter, large groups of wintering wildfowl congregate on the lake, whilst the reedbeds and surrounding woodland and hedgerows host birds like fieldfare and redwing.
In spring and summer, purpose-built rafts attract breeding common terns.
House martins, swallows and swifts are a common sight over the lake and surroundings.
In summer there are glorious displays of purple loosestrife, yellow-flag iris, reeds and sedges on the floating island, the lake shore and in the reedbeds.
All year around look out for the willow and alder around the edge of the lake, and hawthorn, blackthorn, spindle and bullace in the hedgerows.
variety of moths and butterflies can be seen, including garden tiger, butterbur, waved black, holly blue, and gatekeeper.
There are dragonflies and damselflies including beautiful and banded demoiselles, emperor and four-spotted chaser.
A range of beetles such as bloody-nosed beetle and rhinoceros beetle have been recorded on site.
Discover autumn colours, fabulous fungi and wintering wildfowl.
01635 874381
