Ouse Washes

• About Ouse Washes
• Star species
• Seasonal highlights
• Facilities
• Accessibility
• How to get here
• Our work here
• Management and funding

In the heart of The Fens, the Ouse Washes forms the largest area of washland (grazing pasture that floods in the winter) in the UK. The reserve attracts thousands of ducks and swans in winter, and in spring, hundreds of snipe, lapwings and redshanks breed.

Please note

Due to essential Environment Agency river maintenance, the track from the Kingfisher hide to Stevens hide is very wet and muddy. Please wear Wellington boots.

Opening times

The birdwatching hides are open at all times. The visitor centre is open from 9 am to 5 pm every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Entrance charges

Free, but donations to help us continue our work here are welcome.

Contact us

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

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Remember remember your garden wildlife when bonfire building this year. As you gather your logs and leaves, give careful consideration to where you pile them as you could give garden birds and other wildlife a nasty surprise.

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Over use of fertilisers, demand for drinking water and poor town planning are putting our river wildlife in danger, new figures reveal.

Golf courses can help save threatened birds, says new handbook.

Golf courses have a role to play in providing sanctuaries for threatened birds and other wildlife, according to the RSPB and golf’s governing body, the R&A.

More news...

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