Events at Burton Mere Wetlands
Discover exciting events at Burton Mere Wetlands!
Download our trail map, to help you plan your visit.
Days out
Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
BurtonOpenSee opening timesStep into ancient woodland with towering oaks, before winding your way to the lagoons and grasslands beyond. You might see Avocets, with their up-curved beaks, or egrets or harriers. Treat yourself in our café.
About
⚠︎ The whole reserve is closed on the 17 February for essential maintenance to the Visitor centre decking and paths. Additionally, there may be restricted access on 18 and 19 February due to maintenance work ⚠︎
The gateway to the Dee Estuary reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands straddles the border between England and Wales with a mosaic of freshwater wetland habitats, mixed farmland and woodland. The area is bursting with wildlife, hosting Avocets, egrets, harriers, Redshanks, Swallows and Swifts.
This is a place where wading birds and wildfowl thrive among wet grasslands, lagoons and shallow pools, known as scrapes. Reedbeds come alive with warblers in spring, with Grey Herons, egrets and Kingfishers often seen on the lookout for food. In the ancient woodland, Bluebells carpet the floor in spring, while fungi pop up come autumn.
Grazing livestock are used to manage our wet grassland area for breeding Lapwings and Redshanks.
At a glance
Open daily, 9am to 5pm. Closing time changes each month as follows:
November to January 4.30pm
The car park is locked outside of these times.
80 spaces. 6 Blue Badge spaces. Blue badge spaces 30m from Reception Hide. The lane leading to the car park is tarmac with speed bumps. The surface is compact gravel. There is a drop-off point 30 m from the Reception Hide.
No overnight parking or camping. Not suitable for coaches or large motorhomes - please ring or email for advice. Bicycle racks available.
Open daily. They located next to the visitor centre, and at the back of the cafe.
Open daily. They are located in the accessible toilet next to our visitor centre and at the back of the cafe.
Pushchair Accessible
Pushchair Accessible
Visitor centre: step-free with level entry. Nature trails access: Gorse Covert Woodland trail is 600 yards long, unsurfaced so can be muddy in wet weather.
Burton Mere trail takes about 20 minutes on level and compact gravel surface.
The Reedbed trail is a third of a mile long, on level and compact gravel surface ending at the Marsh Covert hide.
The Farm and Fen trail is 600 yards, a mix of boardwalk and level, compact gravel surface but has a moderate incline halfway along.
Inner Marsh Farm trail is 500 yards of natural grass and partially surfaced path across farmland, with steps and a short boardwalk leading to the Inner Marsh Farm hide. Three picnic tables have space for a wheelchair.
Open daily. We have two toilet blocks, one next to the visitor centre, and another at the back of the cafe.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Sorry, dogs are not permitted at Burton Mere Wetlands, except assistance dogs, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season.
Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
Use of personal or commercial drones on or over RSPB-owned property is prohibited.
See what’s here
Plan your visit
Download our trail map
Recent sightings at Burton Mere Wetlands
Species we've seen at Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands week ending 31 January...
- A few Avocets passing through landed on the scrape from 31 Jan but didn't stay.
- 12 Feb a group of 23 Avocets arrived on the main scrape and can be seen daily from the visitor centre.
- The Water Rail has been seen in front of the visitor centre, and the Marsh Harriers displaying over the reedbed
- Great views of the Otter rolling in the grass near visitor centre and eating fish by Willow pool.
- Among the Black-tailed Godwit on the scrapes other waders include Snipe, Redshank, Lapwing, Ruff and occasional Dunlin and Knot.
- Teal are displaying as we approach breeding season, but wintering ducks including Wigeon, Goosander and Pochard.
- Kingfisher is seen most days and both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker.
- Look out for the Woodcock in the wet woodland near the boardwalk.
- The winter thrushes, Redwing and Fieldfare are seen along with Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush.
- Good views of Willow Tit, Siskin, Goldcrest, along with Long-tailed Tits, Treecreeper and Nuthatch, Cetti’s Warblers heard warming up for the breeding season
Contact Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF 0151 353 2720