Bowling Green and Goosemoor

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 Bowling Green and Goosemoor, Bowling Green Rd, Topsham, Exeter EX3, UK

Grid ref: SX971875

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

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

Refreshments
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

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

12 degrees, Sunny day

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 allows over-wintering birds a choice of safe roosting sites as the rising tide pushes them off the mudflats. It's the main high tide roost for the north of the estuary. You can see large numbers of waterbirds at very close range in winter - hundreds of black-tailed godwits and wigeons feed close to the hide. Throughout the year, the open water attracts many different species of wetland birds; little grebes, mute swans and a variety of ducks breed here.

Conservation

Bowling Green Marsh is one of the main critical high tide roosts for the Exe Estuary. This provides the birds that use the estuary a safe place to rest up and feed when the tide is at its highest, and all the mudflats that they feed on are covered.

The RSPB keep the site in good condition by grazing the site and helping to prevent the course grasses and rushes from dominating. We also carry out occasional land forming work to make the site better for the hundreds of birds that regularly use it.

Site information

Bowling Green Marsh is on the east bank of the Exe Estuary, within easy walking distance of both Topsham High Street and our shop at Darts Farm. As a great place for wildlife, it is recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as well as a Natura 2000 and Ramsar site. The Exeter City Council lease of this land to the RSPB makes this nature reserve possible.

RSPB Goosemoor nature reserve is on east of Bowling Green Marsh with the railway line separating the two. Access is gained by passing under the railway bridge and visitors can enjoy views of the reserve by walking or cycling toward Darts Farm along the elevated track. This track is fenced to minimise disturbance but there are a number of viewpoints from which visitors can see a variety of wetland birds such as 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.

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Bowling Green and Goosemoor