Boyton and Hollesley Marshes

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 Boyton and Hollesley Marshes, Woodbridge IP12 3LR, UK

Grid ref: TM387475

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

Boyton and Hollesley Marshes are two vibrant coastal reserves in the lower reaches of the Alde-Ore Estuary. They are both grazing marshes, which means they’re great places for watching birds of prey, owls, butterflies and dragonflies, depending on the time of year.

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
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Melton (Woodbridge).

By bus

Bus route 160 Ipswich-Bealings-Woodbridge-Orford (stopping at Boyton village). Reserve is located 0.5 mile (800m) north-east of village.

By road

For Boyton: Boyton is situated approximately seven miles (11 km) east of Woodbridge. Follow the B1084 to the village of Butley. Turn right and follow the road through to Capel St. Andrew. Turn left and follow the road towards Boyton village. Approximately 0.25 mile before the village, bear left down a concrete track on a sharp right-hand turn where you will see a sign saying welcome to Boyton Marshes. Follow the track until you reach the small car park.

For Hollesey: From Woodbridge, follow directions to Hollesley Bay Prison. You will find a track leading down the side of the main prison with a clear 'Welcome to Hollesey Marshes' RSPB sign. Carry on down this track past the sign and you will soon reach a clearly signposted car park for the RSPB just within the prison grounds.

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

14 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Boyton and Hollesley Marshes

RSPB Boyton and Hollesley Marshes, Woodbridge IP12 3LR, UK
havergate.island@rspb.org.uk
01394 450732
@RSPBSuffolk
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Avocet

Avocets nest on the shallow pools at both Boyton and Hollesley Marshes.

Barn owl

When the barn owls have young to feed, you could see them at any time of day.

Lapwing

Watch the nesting lapwings here chasing predators that may come too close.

Redshank

Keep an eye out for the redshanks' towering display flights over the wet meadows in spring.

Wigeon

Wigeons arrive at Boyton and Hollesley Marshes in autumn and stay until the following spring.

In spring, look for breeding waders such as lapwings, avocets and redshanks, and nesting ducks. Spring migrants pass through and may include yellow wagtails, wheatears and whitethroats. Keep an eye open for a hunting barn owl.

In summer, nesting avocets and lapwings could have chicks on the pools. The first returning autumn migrants arrive from early July, including wading birds such as green sandpipers, spotted redshanks and ruffs. Look for dragonflies and grassland butterflies.

In autumn many wading birds continue to pass through, including greenshanks and whimbrels, while flocks of black-tailed godwits and avocets gather on the estuary. Hundreds of ducks such as wigeons and teals arrive for the winter.

Winter is a great time to see owls and birds of prey, including barn and short-eared owls, marsh and hen harriers and buzzards. Large flocks of wigeons, teals and feral geese gather on the marshes. The latter often attract white-fronted or a few tundra bean geese.

About Boyton and Hollesley Marshes

Habitat

Boyton Marshes is made up of wetland, grassland and coastal habitats. A new freshwater lagoon has been created at Hollesley which has many species of breeding wader including avocet and lapwing.

Conservation

Boyton and Hollesley Marshes are currently some of the best examples of coastal grazing marsh on the Suffolk Coast. At the moment, the sites sustain a healthy population of lapwings, avocets, redshanks and wintering ducks and geese.

We will maintain the coastal grazing marsh at Boyton and Hollesley to suit its breeding avocets, redshanks and lapwing, wintering wildfowl, and aquatic plants and invertebrates. Work will include selective winter flooding, grazing with cattle and sheep, controlling invasive vegetation and maintaining water levels.

Site information

Boyton and Hollesley Marshes are two coastal reserves in the lower reaches of the Alde-Ore Estuary.

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Boyton and Hollesley Marshes