Events at Rye Meads
Discover exciting events all year at Rye Meads. Join us for one of our guided walks including the Wednesday Wander!
Days out
Rye Meads
HoddesdonClosed | Opens tomorrowSee opening timesWelcome to Rye Meads, a wetland reserve that's home to Common Terns, Kingfishers, Water Voles, waterfowl and so much more. Visit for a watch, a ramble, a family-friendly day out or just to enjoy being in nature.
About
This delightful wetland reserve beside the River Lee is a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers, families, photographers and schools thanks to its many trails and hides.
Head out on our trails around swaying reedbeds, open water and shallow pools, known as scrapes. Artificial sandbanks are a good place to spot Kingfishers, while specially built rafts are where the Common Terns choose to nest in summer. Snipe, Green Sandpipers, Shovelers, Gadwalls and Tufted Ducks take over during the winter months.
At a glance
Closed and locked outside of opening hours.
3 Blue Badge spaces Blue Badge spaces 33 yards from the visitor centre. Parking and pedestrian access is all on one level. Tarmac surfacing.
Drop off in coach bay outside the visitor centre when not in use. No height restrictions. Bike racks.
Our toilets are open during opening hours, to the rear of the visitor centre. Surface lino and tiles in the toilets.
Baby changing facilities are located in the toilets, at the rear of the visitor centre.
Check access suitability for events and activities.
Check access suitability for events and activities. Staff are trained in disability awareness.
Mobility scooter - available for hire, free of charge, bookable in advance. Manual push wheelchair for hire, free of charge, bookable in advance.
Our toilets are open during opening hours, to the rear of the visitor centre. Surface lino and tiles in the toilets.
Barbecue
Barbecue
Sorry, dogs are not permitted on the nature reserve (except assistance dogs), due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.
Assistance dogs are welcome on all parts of the reserve.
Sorry, there is no cycling or scooters allowed anywhere on the reserve.
See what’s here
Plan your visit
This is a great location to spot Kingfishers
The vibrant azure and copper feathers of the Kingfisher make them one of the UK’s most colourful and instantly recognisable birds. But blink and you’ll miss them – they dart along rivers and streams at high speeds. RSPB nature reserves and our care-taking teams provide safe wetland havens for these special birds and their fishy prey.
Recent sightings at Rye Meads
Check out which species we've seen at Rye Meads this week (24 May - 31 May).
Kingfisher sightings
Kingfishers have been seen at the Kingfisher hub.
1-8 March - Pair seen at Draper and Kingfisher hub checking out nest banks. First fish pass seen on 8 March.
9-15 March - Pair seemingly unsure about whether to nest at the Kingfisher hub or Draper hide investigating the nest holes at both. Male seen with soil on his bill after going into nest holes at the Kingfisher hub, potentially a sign of nest preparation.
16-22 March - Pair seem to have decided the Kingfisher hub is up to scratch and are continuing to excavate the nest hole in the old bank. First report of mating 20 March.
23-29 March - Lots of continued fish passes and mating.
30 March-5 April - Sightings starting to dwindle a little but male and female still being seen.
6 April-12 April - Sightings continued to dwindle until the first swap over was seen on 10 April, indicating that they are now nesting.
13 April-26 April - Not many sightings except for change overs being seen. There was a fish pass at the Kingfisher hub on 13 April and an unringed male appeared on 18 April before being chased off by our resident male.
27 April-2 May - Sightings still a little infrequent. The male was seen on 30 April taking a fish into the nest hole and later with eggshell in his mouth indicating the eggs have hatched.
3 May-10 May - Lots of regular sightings as the adults take fish in for the young and were seen multiple every day of the week.
11 May-17 May - The Kingfishers were seen daily, with very regular sightings on all the Kingfisher VIP morning events.
17 May-24 May - Feeding of the young has continued with fledging due any time now.
25 May - The first chick has fledged!
26 May - Two juveniles seen together so there is at least 2 fledglings.
28 May - The adults have been seen mating as well as a fish pass, meaning they are already getting started on the second brood.
29 May - Continued sightings of fish passing and mating.
30 May - Sightings have dwindled a little bit with sightings every 40-50 minutes.
Other sightings
- The spot of the year goes to a visitor who saw an Otter from the bridge leading to the Ashby viewing platform on 29 May!
- A Green Woodpecker was seen at the Draper hide on 24 May.
- The Cuckoo is being heard but not seen a lot, mainly from the Draper hide.
- Reed Bunting were seen at the Warbler hide on 24 May.
- A Whitethroat was seen at the Gadwall hide on 25 May.
- Oystercatchers keep dropping in every now and again at the Draper hide.
- Lots of Brimstone, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Painted Lady butterflies all around the reserve.
- The first Common Blue butterfly of the year was reported on 27 May, being seen at the Gadwall hide.
- A Hobby was seen from the Kingfisher boardwalk on 28 May.
- A Common Tern was seen flying over the Lee Marsh from the Kingfisher loop on 30 May.
Contact Rye Meads
rye.meads@rspb.org.uk Rye Meads, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, SG12 8JS 01992 708383