The RSPB: Rainham Marshes

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Lapwing in display flight over breeding grounds

Speckled wood butterfly on nettle leaf

Marsh frog

Water vole feeding amongst waterlilies

Two children sitting filling in quiz sheets, Rainham Marshes

Visitors to RSPB Rainham Marshes reserve

Girl pond dipping at RSPB Rainham Marshes

Marsh harrier gliding over reedbed

Redshank

Lapwing at RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve

New hide at RSPB Rainham Marshes reserve

Flock of golden plovers circling against setting sun

Big skies, exciting wildlife and a great place for a walk - all inside the M25!

Rainham Marshes

Season

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Weather today

16°C

Where is it?

View map

Right, let's go...

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Rainham Marshes

Wildlife awards

Rainham Marshes is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK.

SSSI

Top things to do in Spring

The amazing cacophony of croaking marsh frogs, day and night
A myriad of butterflies and bees dancing around the swathes of flowers, while dragonflies patrol the ditches and pools
Tumbling lapwings defending their territories over the marsh

Top things to do in Summer

Water voles become very obliging and sometimes come to within a few feet of you!
Our fabulous adventure playground for families to enjoy
Explore the Marshland Discovery Zone for both the young and young at heart

Top things to do in Autumn

Come and see passage waders such as redshanks and black-tailed godwits
Migrating birds of prey stay long enough to hunt over the marshes
Exuberant Cetti's warblers burst into song to claim their patch of reeds for winter

Top things to do in Winter

Swirling flocks of countless lapwings and golden plovers shimmering in the winter sky
Hunting peregrines plummeting after waders and ducks
Whistling wigeons grazing the wetlands like feathered sheep

What's on?

25 May to 28 May
Art in the Purfleet Hide : Richard Allen Wildlife Art
Other
26 May to 22 December
The Sunday Stroll
Guided walk
28 May to 16 December
Blindfold Birding
Guided walk

Your photos

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Latest forum posts

23 May 2013
First post and First Water Vole
Last post by Ron S
4 replies
9 May 2013
Clare, Limpy, Aiki and Shane's Forumite meet up at Rainham Marshes.
Last post by Shane
32 replies
5 May 2013
Possible Brown-tail Moth
Last post by BrianP
2 replies

Visit our forum

Latest blog posts

25 May 2013
Bees and wasps...
Posted by Howard Vaughan
24 May 2013
Back to see us...
Posted by Howard Vaughan
24 May 2013
Come and visit...
Posted by Howard Vaughan

Downloads

Map of Rainham Marshes

2.35Mb, PDF

Map with suggested walks and other features on the Rainham Marshes reserve

Date: 2 May 2012

WildSquare Bingo

2.8Mb, PDF

Date: 21 June 2010

Living classrooms

Get your class or group exploring the natural world in fun and innovative ways.

Extend your stay

Find other attractions nearby at Enjoy England
Find accommodation at Cottages4you

Other places to visit

Male bearded tit hiding in reedbed

South Essex Marshes

Gateway to the largest wetland in Essex, on the doorstep of the Thames

Male bearded tit in tree

Newport Wetlands

Tranquil reedbeds and stunning views of the Severn estuary, close to civilisation

Ellins Tower at the RSPB South Stack cliffs nature reserve, Anglesey

South Stack Cliffs

A spectacular cliff and heathland seascape

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