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 9:00 amSee 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 (19-26 April).
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.
We are expecting the eggs to hatch (if they are successful) within the next week.
Other sightings
- A Coal Tit was seen at the Draper dipping pond on 19 April.
- The Cuckoo is being heard a little more regularly from the Draper hide.
- Up to four Little Ringed Plovers at the Draper hide.
- The Water Voles are still hanging around at the Kingfisher boardwalk.
- Sand Martins were seen from the Draper hide on 20 April.
- A Whitethroat was heard at the Warbler hide and at the end of the first boardwalk.
- A Great Egret flew over the Draper hide on 22 April.
- The first Swift of the year was seen from the Kingfisher boardwalk on 23 April.
- A Marsh Harrier was seen from the Lapwing hide on 24 April.
- There are lots of Sedge Warblers along the path towards the Tern and Gadwall hides and the seasonal trail.
- A Garden Warbler was seen at the 5 bar gate just past Draper on 25 April.
- A Water Shrew was seen at the Kingfisher boardwalk on 25 April.
Contact Rye Meads
rye.meads@rspb.org.uk Rye Meads, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, SG12 8JS 01992 708383