Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands

Address: RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Neston CH64 5SF

Grid ref: SJ319739

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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, noisy redshanks, swallows and swifts.

Plan your visit

Nature reserve: open daily, 9am. Closing times change seasonally, see below.
Car park: open daily, 9am. Closing times change seasonally, see below.
Toilets: open daily, 9am. Closing times change seasonally, see below.
Sesonal closing times:
- March - 6pm
- April - 8pm
- May, June, July - 9pm
- August - 8pm
- September - 7pm
- October - 6pm.
- All other months close at the same time as the visitor centre.
- Closed and locked outside these times.
Visitor Centre: open daily
9.30am-5pm, 1 February-31 October.
9.30am-4.30pm, 1 November-31 January.
Refreshments: available daily, 9.30am-4.30pm.
Mail order shop: open daily, 9.30am-4.30pm.

Festive opening times

Christmas Eve: nature reserve open, 9am-1pm. Visitor centre, refreshments, shop and toilets open, 9.30am-1pm.
Christmas Day: nature reserve, visitor centre, refreshments, shop and toilets closed.
Boxing Day: nature reserve, visitor centre, refreshments, shop and toilets closed.
New Year’s Eve: nature reserve open, 9am-3pm. Visitor centre, refreshments, shop and toilets open, 9.30am-3pm.
New Year’s Day: nature reserve open, 10am-4pm. Visitor centre, refreshments, shop and toilets open, 10.30am-4pm.
All other days in the festive period are open our usual winter opening hours as above.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: £6

Children: £3 (5-17 years)
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s

Student: £4

Free entrance for carers: Yes

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Baby changing
Pushchair friendly
Refreshments
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop
Educational facilities
Play area

Accessibility

Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By train

The nearest train stations are at Neston (3.4miles) and Hooton (4.3miles). Neston is on the Wrexham-Bidston (Borderlands Line). Hooton is served by Merseyrail’s Wirral Line.

By bus

The nearest bus service stops at Ness Botanic Gardens (1.4miles from the reserve).

By bike

The Burton Marsh Greenway is a scenic cycle route to Burton from Chester and Wales and links with the Wirral Way in Neston.

By road

The reserve is signposted off Puddington Lane, Burton, accessed via the A540 and 10 minutes from the M56.

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.

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Sorry, dogs are not permitted at Burton Mere Wetlands, except assistance dogs, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.

We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife can easily become startled by a dog they perceive as a predator.

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.

Other exciting dog walking routes are available to enjoy in the local area; nearby Burton Marsh and Parkgate parts of our Dee Estuary reserve have permissive footpaths where dogs are welcome on a short lead.
Dogs die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.

Bringing a flock? We welcome group bookings of up to 20 people.
Please notify us of your visit in advance. Whether it is to reserve parking, arrange a tailored introductory talk or organise a bespoke guided walk for your group, we can ensure that your needs are attended to. We don't have coach parking facilities, however we can accommodate coach groups, with further information available on enquiry.

If you are a nature tour leader, we would love to work with you to make the most of your trip for your guests.

For all group visits, please contact us on deeestuary@rspb.org.uk or phone us on 0151 353 2720 so we can arrange your visit to your specific requirements.

Bring your class along for a fantastic self-guided school visit. We can provide you with curriculum-linked resources to make the most of your trip. We don't have coach parking facilities, however we can accommodate coach groups, with further information available on enquiry.
For full details and to book please email deeestuary@rspb.org.uk.

We don’t have a guided education programme here at Burton Mere Wetlands. For information on the exciting programme of guided, curriculum-linked outdoor education sessions available at other RSPB reserves, visit our school trips information.

Also, check out our fantastic range of resources for teachers, or take on the Schools’ Wild Challenge.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 83Kb

Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands Map

Contact Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands

RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Neston CH64 5SF
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk
0151 353 2720
@RSPB_BurtonMere
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Black-tailed godwit

Flocks of black-tailed godwits can be seen on the pools here throughout the year.

Marsh harrier

Watch out for menacing marsh harriers here particularly in autumn and winter.

Kingfisher

Spend time in the hides and you may be rewarded with an unforgettable kingfisher encounter.

Pink-footed goose

Large numbers of pink-footed geese arrive in autumn.

Little egret

These dainty little white herons can be seen throughout the year here and are often joined by their rare cousins, great white and cattle egrets.

Nature spectacles

We have one of best bluebell woodlands in the local area in spring.
Summer non-breeding flock of black-tailed godwits in stunning breeding plumage.
During spring tide periods around the equinoxes, thousands of wildfowl seek refuge on the pools as much of the estuary gets flooded.
One of England’s rarest birds of prey, the hen harrier, regularly hunts over the wet grassland and reedbed.

Spring is alive with the sounds and sights of many breeding birds. Our favourites include nesting egrets, lapwings and herons. The highlight amongst the many warblers is undoubtedly the grasshopper warbler with its distinctive 'reeling' song. Non-breeding regular visitors include black-tailed godwits and spotted redshanks, which pass through on their way north. See the bluebell carpet in bloom.

As the weather hots up, so does the wildlife action. Summer visitors include the aerobatic hobby and menacing marsh harrier. Ducklings are well on their way and are actively feeding. A quiet and patient watcher may catch a glimpse of a water vole as it plops underwater. Stick around until dusk and see the Daubenton's and pipistrelle bats feasting on flying insects. Common lizards can be spotted.

Autumn sees the action slow down as nature gets ready for winter. The reserve, however, remains well-watched as many scarce migrant birds have been seen in previous years, including little stints, green, curlew and wood sandpipers. Little egret numbers peak, with spectacular woodland roost, and you can see the return of pink-footed geese and hen harriers.

The whole area becomes a winter wildlife wonderland. Many of our feathered friends choose to spend their winter here. Probably the most spectacular (and noisy) are the thrushes and starlings that have come from the continent to feast upon our unfrozen farmland. Whooper and Bewick’s swans feed on crop stubble and grassland. Hen harriers spend their winter out on the saltmarsh but will regularly hunt the pools and wetland here. Frozen days are the best time to see the usually shy water rail, as it is forced to leave the cover of vegetation to find somewhere to feed.

About Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands

Habitat

This is a place where wading birds and wildfowl thrive among wet grasslands, shallow pools, known as scrapes, and lagoons. Reedbeds come alive with warblers in spring, with herons, egrets and kingfishers often seen on the lookout for food.

Parts of the reserve are still farmed, and the crops provide food for farmland birds in winter. Rich pasture is grazed by our sheep during lambing season and when the saltmarsh is covered during high tide.

When you first step foot into the reserve you are surrounded by ancient woodland with towering oaks and, in spring, a carpet of bluebells.

Conservation

Our reserves are looked after to make sure there are ideal conditions for the wildlife that live here.

At Burton Mere, the top priority is managing the wet grasslands for the breeding lapwing and small numbers of redshanks in spring and summer. Grazing cattle and mowing keep the grass short, with rushes and weeds like ragwort removed.

The islands and scrapes are looked after in a way which makes them perfect for the iconic avocets which breed here. In winter we keep the water levels higher for the vast flocks of wildfowl and wading birds who descend to feed.

The pools and ditches are a larder for little egrets, with one of the country’s largest colonies nesting in the nearby woodland. Great white egrets and the cattle egrets can also be spotted.

Partners

Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Site information

From an abandoned crop field to one of our biggest reserves, Burton Mere is a place designed to get you closer to nature. The reserve has been designed to be as accessible as possible, putting you at the centre of the action.

The RSPB bought the single field in 1986 and created three lagoons for birds from the Dee Estuary to feed and to roost. A single hide opened to visitors in 1992 but soon more land was bought, and the reserve began to grow. Money from the Heritage Lottery Fund meant new visitor facilities could be built in 2011 and the site was officially opened as the Burton Mere Wetlands.

The original hide is still here and marks the end of a mile long visitor trail around part of the reserve.

If you’re feeling energetic you can head up to Burton Point where the remains of an Iron Age hillfort can be seen. From here, you can also take in fine views across the estuary and see the great swathes of saltmarsh protected by the RSPB.

Latest blog posts

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Activities and events

Activities for children and families

We have fun self-guided quiz trails, bird watching, den building and Wildlife Explorer backpacks to hire. (There are wide, level pushchair-friendly paths with short routes.)

Our big family event is the Big Wild Sleepout in summer.

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

Leisure activities

There is something for everyone, from relaxing in the Reception Hide with a drink and a snack, to venturing through varied habitats on the trails to a breathtaking viewpoint over the estuary.

Shorter routes are an option for those wanting something in between, including a scenic short circular trail around old fishponds surrounded by trees hosting all manner of woodland and garden birds. Grab a sandwich to go on your way in, or bring your own picnic and take advantage of the numerous benches and tables dotted around the trails.

Birdwatching is one of the main draws here but summer months boast an abundance of butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife.

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

Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands