Days out
Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
BurtonOpenSee opening timesStep into ancient woodland with towering oaks, before winding your way to the lagoons and grasslands beyond.
About
The gateway to the Dee Estuary reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands straddles the border between England and Wales with a mosaic of freshwater wetland habitats, mixed farmland and woodland. The area is bursting with wildlife, hosting Avocets, Egrets, harriers, Redshanks, Swallows and Swifts.
This is a place where wading birds and wildfowl thrive among wet grasslands, lagoons and shallow pools, known as scrapes. Reedbeds come alive with warblers in spring, with Herons, Egrets and Kingfishers often seen on the lookout for food. In the ancient woodland, Bluebells carpet the floor in spring, while fungi pop up come autumn.
Parts of the reserve are still farmed, and the crops provide food for farmland birds in winter, while grazing cattle and sheep keep the grasses short for breeding Lapwings and Redshanks.
At a glance
Open daily, 9am.
Closing time changes each month as follows:
January 4.30pm,
February 5pm,
March 6pm,
April 8pm,
May, June, July 9pm,
August 8pm,
September 7pm,
October 6pm,
November and December 4.30pm.
The car park is locked outside of these times.
80 spaces.
6 Blue Badge spaces. Blue badge spaces 30m from Reception Hide.
The car park surface is compact gravel.
There is a drop-off point 30 m from the Reception Hide.
No overnight parking or camping.
Not suitable for coaches or large motorhomes - please ring or email for advice.
Bicycle racks available.
Open daily.
It is located next to the visitor centre.
Open daily.
They are located in the accessible toilet next to our visitor centre.
Pushchair Accessible
Pushchair Accessible
Visitor centre: step-free with level entry. Nature trails access: Gorse Covert Woodland trail is 600 yards long, unsurfaced so can be muddy in wet weather. Burton Mere trail takes about 20 minutes on level and compact gravel surface. The Reedbed trail is a third of a mile long, on level and compact gravel surface ending at the Marsh Covert hide. The Farm and Fen trail is 600 yards, a mix of boardwalk and level, compact gravel surface but has a moderate incline halfway along. Inner Marsh Farm trail is 500 yards of natural grass and partially surfaced path across farmland, with steps and a short boardwalk leading to the Inner Marsh Farm hide. Three picnic tables have space for a wheelchair.
Open daily.
We have two toilet blocks, one next to the visitor centre, and another just along the Mere Trail.
Sorry, dogs are not permitted at Burton Mere Wetlands, 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 in all parts of the reserve.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
See what’s here
Contact Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF 0151 353 2720