Buckenham 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 Buckenham Marshes, Yarmouth Road, Buckenham, Norwich NR13 4HW

Grid ref: TG351056

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

This reserve is haven for wildlife on the northern bank of the River Yare in Norfolk. Sited around 8 miles south-east of Norwich, near the village of Buckenham, it consists of marshland, reedbed, wetland and valley habitats - it often boasts the only regular winter flock of bean geese in England.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations welcome.

Children: Free, but donations welcome.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Car park
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

A number of trains on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (Wherry Lines) services call at Buckenham station by request at the weekend. The entrance to the reserve is adjacent to the station. Check connections on the National Rail Enquiries website, or call 08457 484950.

By bus

An hourly bus service from Norwich stops 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the reserve on the Brundall to Strumpshaw Road at the junction of Long Lane and Stone Road (weekdays and Saturdays only).

From the bus stop (arriving from direction of Norwich), walk towards Brundall for 40m, then turn left down Stone Road and immediately turn right into Low Road. Turn right at the road junction and continue until Buckenham station.

By bike

The Yare Valley cycle route runs close to the reserve. Cycling from Brundall, head east towards Strumpshaw. After the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right. Turn right at the road junction and continue until Buckenham train station, adjacent to the marsh.

By road

The reserve is best approached from the village of Brundall which lies east of Norwich just off the A47. From the A47 roundabout, drive through Brundall towards Strumpshaw. Turn right into Stone Road. Follow Stone Road and take the second road on the right (also Stone Road). Take the first turn on the right onto Station Road, which leads to Buckenham train station and Buckenham Marshes.

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

From Brundall, walk east along the High Street and continue under the bridge towards Strumpshaw. Soon after you pass the Strumpshaw sign, turn right into Stone Road, and immediately right again into Low Road. To reach Buckenham Marshes, turn right at the road junction and continue until Buckenham train station, adjacent to the marsh.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Group bookings are accepted.

15 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Buckenham Marshes

RSPB Buckenham Marshes, Yarmouth Road, Buckenham, Norwich NR13 4HW
strumpshaw@rspb.org.uk
01603 715191
@RSPBNorfolkLinc
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Taiga bean goose

Arguably the reserve's most special birds, bean geese come here every winter.

Lapwing

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

Rook

In autumn and winter, they gather here with jackdaws to form impressive flocks of tens of thousands of birds.

Teal

Look for tiny teals among the wintering wildfowl on the lagoon.

Wigeon

Wigeons arrive at Buckenham in autumn and stay until the following spring.

As wintering wigeons leave in the spring, the marshes become alive with breeding wading birds, including lapwings, redshanks, snipes, avocets and oystercatchers. Barn owls also breed here. Hunting marsh harriers can be seen, mobbed furiously by the lapwings.

In summer, avocet and lapwing chicks can be seen feeding with their parents. Barn owls hunt in daylight to feed their growing young. Large numbers of Canada and greylag geese gather to moult. In late summer, a variety of wading birds on passage, stop to feed on the shallow pools.

Throughout autumn, wigeons, teals, shovelers and other ducks return in large numbers to the grazing marshes. Wintering lapwing and golden plover start to increase in numbers, attracting peregrines and marsh harriers.

Over winter, wintering birds reach a spectacular peak with thousands of wigeons, lapwings and golden plovers and hundreds of teals. Birds of prey, including marsh harriers and peregrine falcons, can cause large flocks of the wintering birds to suddenly rise in the air, creating an exciting commotion.

About Buckenham Marshes

Habitat

Buckenham Marsh contains marshland, reedbed, wetland and valley habitats.

Conservation

Our conservation efforts at Buckenham Marshes include:

Managing wet grassland - We manage our wet grassland for the benefit of wintering waterfowl and breeding waders, using grazing and topping to create suitable sward heights. We also cut back encroaching rushes and scrub, and control ditch water levels, while retaining boggy areas and pools.
Managing pools, ponds and ditches - We are managing our pools, ponds and ditches for the benefit of aquatic flora, wildfowl, otters, water voles and bitterns. Work includes maintaining ditch edges, improving water quality, removing vegetation from open pools and increasing the number of fish.

Site information

Buckenham Marshes is good for those new to birdwatching in autumn and winter only. Large numbers of wintering birds can be easily viewed from October through to March.

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