Burton Mere Wetlands

Home , Burton (near Neston), Dee Estuary, Ellesmere Port, Oakenholt, Point of Ayr

Finding your way around Burton Mere Wetlands

Burton Mere Wetlands is the heart of the RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserve. It’s designed to bring much of the estuary’s special wildlife into easy reach, with fully accessible facilities and some fascinating history too.

Relax around the old fishponds and wildlife garden. Wander through ancient oak woodland and rich wetlands to reach hilltop views of the surrounding landscape. There’s something different to see and hear around every turn. Come back through the year for the exciting seasonal spectacles.

Woodland trail The Mere trail Wetland trail 0.3 miles each way 0.3 miles circuit 0.8 miles each way A pedestrian route onto the reserve A picturesque loop around former Take in the wide skies as you explore or a lovely woodland wander from fishponds, the historic Mere and our a variety of wetland habitats on our the car park and home to our family wildlife garden. The perfect spot for longest trail. Listen to a range of Wild Play area. Admire a carpet of a picnic whilst watching busy bird warblers singing in spring, and dodge bluebells in early spring and splendid feeders. Garden open April to October, dragonflies darting between pools colours in autumn. Boots are needed and suitable for most wheelchairs. in summer. in winter as it gets muddy. Farmland trail Headland trail 280 yards each way 0.4 miles each way A gentle route with views across Venture up onto the higher ground neighbouring farmland, good for of the historic sandstone headland finding flocks of finches and thrushes of Burton Point, with unrivalled in winter, orchids in summer and a views of the surrounding landscape chance of boxing hares in spring. and remains of an Iron Age hillfort.

N e Key Stat st ion Ro o To A540 ad n Roa Enjoy panoramic views d BURTON (Dunstan Lane) across the reserve, the Water whole estuary and to Listen out for the the Welsh hills from the weird and wonderful Wet grassland P T u o Headland trail. sounds of herons d Relax at one of our picnic d P and egrets nesting in ud Reedbed tables on The Mere trail and g di in the neighbouring to ng n to woodland in spring. you might be lucky enough La n to spot a kingfisher. ne Woodland

Farmland Gorse Covert Bridge screen Scrub Reedbed The Mere Marsh Covert screen Railway

Bridge Pool Marsh Visitor centre Covert Burton hide Point Parking Centenary Get cosy next to Pool the visitor centre’s Viewpoint We planted more than Bunker wood pellet stove hide Border 13,000 reeds to whilst watching hide establish our reedbed. Scrape birds of prey hunt a Garden variety of ducks and ENGLAND waders in winter. Wild play WALES Border Pool To avoid disturbing wildlife, no dogs (except assistance Our wet grassland is loved dogs) are allowed by lapwings for nesting in beyond the car park. N spring and packed with flocks of feeding geese in winter. • For more information about the accessibility of RSPB Burton Mere W E Wetlands, please visit rspb.org.uk/ burtonmerewetlands S Exploring other sites in the area

The RSPB Dee Estuary nature reserve is RSPB Parkgate RSPB Point of Ayr one of the largest and most varied in the Nearest postcode: CH64 6RL Nearest postcode: CH8 9RD UK. From freshwater wetlands, woodland Tel: 0151 353 2720 Tel: 0151 353 2720 and farmland at Burton Mere Wetlands (4 miles from RSPB (24 miles from RSPB to saltmarsh, reedbed, mudflats, sand Burton Mere Wetlands) Burton Mere Wetlands) dunes and shingle beach across the tidal estuary. Much of the estuary’s shoreline rspb.org.uk/parkgate rspb.org.uk/pointofayr is easily reached, with some key areas Enjoy wonderful, wide views and sublime The iconic Point of Ayr lighthouse marks outlined on the map below. sunsets over the vast saltmarsh and the the northernmost tip of mainland Wales, Welsh hills beyond. Parkgate village is a perfect place for seawatching from the renowned for its excellent fish and beach. Or in winter, watch a dramatic high chips, ice creams and pubs. tide roost from the shelter of the hide. M 57

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Talacre Parkgate is famed for its occasional high Thurstaston tide spectacle, but egrets and skylarks A540 grace the marsh year-round, whilst A548 thousands of pink-footed geese and rare hen harriers fly in to roost here in winter.

Neston Reedbed is the largest area of reeds on the estuary. Here marsh harriers and bitterns roost Point of Ayr is a wild, Parkgate dynamic shore at the mouth in winter, and it’s a great place of the estuary, with pristine to look and listen for warblers sand dunes home to rare in spring and summer. sandhill rustic moths, natterjack toads and a range Ellesmere Port of migrating songbirds. Holywell A41 Neston

Burton Flint and Oakenholt Marsh is Start your visit to one of the most important parts RSPB Dee Estuary of the estuary, where thousands nature reserve Flint Burton Mere of wading birds roost at high at Burton Mere tide in the winter months. Wetlands A548 Wetlands for all the latest updates and information. Decca Pools are within easy view of the Burton Marsh Greenway. Key They are popular in late summer for migrating waders like greenshanks Water and spotted redshanks, and Look out for barn owls hunting short-eared owls hunting in winter. around Burton Marsh’s brackish pools at dawn and dusk, and Mudflats migrating wheatears and whinchats Chester on surrounding farmland in spring. Saltmarsh