Bowers Marsh

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Bowers Marsh, Church Rd, Bowers Gifford, Basildon SS13 2HG

Grid ref: TQ755867

See our updates page to see which reserves are open.

Bowers Marsh is made up of grassland, marshland, lagoons, and wetland and it's a beautiful reserve for walks through these different habitats. Follow one of the trails and you are likely to see or hear something of interest, from ducks in the winter to a lucky glance of a kingfisher.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Car park
Picnic area
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Bowers Marsh is between Pitsea station and Benfleet station where there are regular services from Shoeburyness and London Fenchurch Street.

From the station exit, turn right at the end of Station Approach and then right down Brackendale Avenue, following the public footpath alongside the railway line until you turn right Church Road. Follow Church road to the main reserve entrance. For more information about train times please visit the C2C website before you travel.

By bus

The nearest bus stop is on the B1464 on the number 22 Basildon to Canvey bus route. Walk underneath the A13 via the subway and it brings you out on Church Road, go straight on and walk down the road to the reserve entrance.

By road

Follow directions from the A13 for Pitsea. Take the turning towards Pitsea centre/ Pitsea market onto Broadway Link. Turn right onto London Road (B1464 towards Basildon Crematorium), turn right at the mini-roundabout with a brown sign. This is Church Road - go left at the next T-junction and follow the road until you reach the reserve entrance, and just beyond, the car park.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group bookings are accepted.

14 degrees, Sunny day

Download

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Bowers Marsh trail guide

Contact Bowers Marsh

RSPB Bowers Marsh, Church Rd, Bowers Gifford, Basildon SS13 2HG
southessex@rspb.org.uk
01268 498620
@RSPBEssex
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What will you see?

Our star species

Bearded tit

Listen for their bell-like calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds.

Curlew

Curlews are large, brown wading birds with very long, curved bills.

Kingfisher

If you're patient, you may be rewarded with an unforgettable kingfisher encounter.

Lapwing

Huge numbers of lapwings gather here in winter.

Sparrowhawk

Look out for sparrowhawks flying along the hedgerows as they search for prey.

In spring, you can see displaying lapwings and singing skylarks fill the skies. Look out for water voles in the wet ditches. Turtle doves use the cover crop and you might hear them purring in the taller trees.

During summer, damselflies and dragonflies can be seen around the reserve, including the four-spotted chaser and ruddy darter. Butterflies will be in their best numbers - how many can you spot on a dry, sunny day? Hobbies can be seen feeding over the wetland areas.

In autumn, wildfowl numbers begin to build across the wetland. Look for our smallest duck, the teal, along with shovelers and gadwalls.

Watch out for birds of prey like peregrines disturbing the wildfowl on the lagoons. Wigeon numbers will now be at their highest across the wetland - listen for their whistling call. Mixed flocks will be moving through the hedgerows including groups of long-tailed tits.

About Bowers Marsh

Habitat

Bowers Marsh is a nature reserve made up of dry and wet grassland, fresh and saline lagoons, intertidal habitat, saltmarsh and arable areas. With different habitats across the reserve you are likely to see or hear something of interest, from the many ducks and finches in winter, to singing skylarks, water voles and butterflies in summer.

Conservation

The site is historically grazing marsh and is now managed as a reserve comprising of significant wetland, lowland wet and dry grassland habitats and provides feeding and breeding grounds for important wintering, migratory and breeding waders and wildfowl. This is primarily achieved through hydrological management and appropriate grazing regimes. It also supports a range of important protected species such as water voles and reptiles by providing important managed habitats such as ditch networks, meadows and fields of varied structure and floral diversity.

Site information

Bowers Marsh is an ancient landscape alive with the sights and sounds of wildlife. This grazing marsh has played a vital role in the lives of people and wildlife for centuries. Now, after careful restoration, it’s ready and waiting for you to explore and enjoy.

There are 4 miles (6 km) of nature trails for you to explore on foot, three viewing points and two picnic areas. The trails pass different areas of the reserve such as a 10ha saline lagoon, 20ha freshwater reservoir/scrapes, wet grassland, hedgerow and reedbed habitats. Scrapes are specifically created close to viewing areas to provide a wildlife spectacle for visitors.

There are public footpaths and a bridleway onsite. The Manor Way track is a public bridleway that terminates on the western half of the reserve. The RSPB has continued the track so that it will become part of a 5km permissive bridleway loop for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, taking in much of the site. The start of the Manor Way track is at the southern end of Church Road, Bowers Gifford, immediately adjacent to the reserve entrance.

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Activities and events

Activities for children and families

There are plenty of opportunities for all the family, young and old, to get closer to nature at Bowers Marsh. The 1km Hedgerow Stroll is ideal for little legs and doesn’t take you too far away from the car park.

Bring a picnic to enjoy at one of the two picnic areas.

Not all paths are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs at present.

Leisure activities

Try the Lapwing Trail for both the grassland and wetland parts of the reserve or the Wetland Trail for a good long 5km walk.

Marshside

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Bowers Marsh