Bowling Green and Goosemoor

Address: RSPB Bowling Green and Goosemoor, Bowling Green Rd, Topsham, Exeter EX3, UK

Grid ref: SX971875

What3Words: marzipan.rapport.starts

You'll find Bowling Green and Goosemoor on the confluence of the River Exe and the River Clyst, close to the town of Topsham. It's an ideal spot to watch birds up close, including spring and autumn migrating birds, and winter flocks of waders, ducks and geese feeding and resting, from the comfort of the Lookout hide.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are welcome.

Facilities

Visitor centre is closed
Refreshments facilities are closed
Picnic area
Viewing point

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Topsham station (Exeter to Exmouth line). From the station turn right, then right again into Elm Grove Road, walk along Elm Grove Road into Bowling Green Road. Cross the small stone bridge and follow this road as it twists its way to the hide.

By bus

Using the 57 service (Exeter to Exmouth) to Topsham's Elm Grove Road stop: walk along Elm Grove Road into Bowling Green Road. Cross the small stone bridge and follow this road as it twists its way to the hide.

By bike

National Cycle Network 2.

By road

On the eastern side of the Exe Estuary, 5 miles (8 km) south of Exeter and 6.5 miles (10.8 km) north of Exmouth. Bowling Green Hide is on Bowling Green Road, Topsham. No verge side parking. Please use Topsham's Holman Way or The Quay car parks. From Holman Way car park turn left and walk via Monmouth Avenue and Monmouth Street (RSPB sign) to Bowling Green Road (12-minute walk along delightful country lanes). From Topsham Quay car park, walk along the Strand, then the Goatwalk, which leads into Bowling Green Road (15-minute walk with stunning estuary views).

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.

Other ways to get there

The summer foot ferry links this reserve with our Exminster Marshes reserve. It departs Passage Inn, Ferry Road, Topsham for the Topsham Lock Cottage on the west bank. Ring 07801 203338 for ferry details.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Contact Bowling Green and Goosemoor

RSPB Bowling Green and Goosemoor, Bowling Green Rd, Topsham, Exeter EX3, UK
exe.estuary@rspb.org.uk
01392 833311

What will you see?

Our star species

Black-tailed godwit

Flocks of black-tailed godwits can be seen on the estuary in spring and in autumn.

Brent goose

Flocks of brent geese can be seen in good numbers here from October through to spring.

Avocet

Avocets gather on the marsh and in the estuary.

Wigeon

You can often spot large numbers of wigeons, who feed close to the hide.

Teal

Teals are a common sight at Bowling Green Marsh.

Colourful shelducks can be seen displaying. Watch out for swifts, swallows, sand and house martins which regularly feed over the pools. Try and spot elusive garganeys as they start arriving for the breeding season, or even a resting spoonbill.

Look out for black-tailed godwits returning from Iceland, many still in their rich, ruddy breeding plumage. Early migrants such as ringed plovers, little stints, ruffs and sandpipers may be seen as they start to head south on migration.

The marsh comes alive with flocks of redshanks, greenshanks and dunlins, together with hundreds of curlews, as they all gather for the high tide roost. Look out for passing ospreys fishing in the upper estuary or even perched up on posts and trees.

The reserve offers a fantastic spectacle as many wigeons, pintails, teals, shovelers and other ducks gather particularly either side of the high tide. Hundreds of black-tailed godwits, lapwings, avocet and curlews use the freshwater pools to roost and the views from the lookout are exceptional. Opportunist peregrines hunt almost daily sending the flocks of waders into a blur.

About Bowling Green and Goosemoor

Habitat

Bowling Green Marsh is worth a visit whatever the season. Its wending waterways attract wetland birds like little grebes, mute swans, pintails, teals and shovelers all year round. The hide is the perfect place to get up close to the waterbirds. See black-tailed godwits and wigeons as they feed or watch as hunting peregrines send the flocks scattering.

In spring, you might spot a spoonbill or catch a colourful shelduck’s display and summer is the time to look out for little stints and ruffs as they start to migrate south.

A haven for overwintering birds, autumn and winter are a busy time at Bowling Green Marsh. Flocks of redshanks, greenshanks and dunlins and hundreds of curlews arrive to find their high-tide roosting spots.

Conservation

Our reserves are carefully looked after to provide ideal conditions for the wildlife that call them home. Bowling Green Marsh is one of the main high-tide roosting spots on the Exe Estuary. It’s an important place for resting and feeding when the mudflats are covered.

We keep the site in good condition using grazing. This boosts biodiversity, ensuring the course grasses and rushes don’t dominate and other important plants are able to grow. Land forming work is carried out from time to time to preserve and maintain the site for the hundreds of birds that use it.

Site information

Bowling Green Marsh is a wildlife hub of international importance. It has been recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as a Natura 2000 and Ramsar site. To learn more about what these protections mean, head here.

The reserve is ideally situated on the east bank of the Exe Estuary, with Topsham High Street and our RSPB shop at Darts Farm a short walk away.

Visitors to the site can enjoy two reserves in one trip, as RSPB Goosemoor is located just east of Bowling Green Marsh. To visit Goosemoor from Bowling Green, simply head under the railway bridge. For panoramic views across the reserve, take a walk or cycle along the elevated track to Darts Farm. The viewpoints along the way are great places to spot wetland birds like black-tailed godwits, redshanks and little egrets.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Regular guided walks and events are held at the reserve but don't miss the opportunity to visit the RSPB shop at Darts Farm, Topsham. Want to get up-close to our winter visitors? Every winter (late October to early March) our mini avocet cruises (1.5 hours) depart from Topsham, giving spectacular views of thousands of birds feeding on the estuary mud. Ring 01392 432691 or look out for details on the RSPB website.

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/bowlinggreenmarsh

Bowling Green and Goosemoor