Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands

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Address
RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Neston CH64 5SF
Grid ref
SJ319739

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

Opening times

The reserve is open every day, 9am until dusk (open until 9pm in summer). Closed 25th December.

The visitor centre is open seven days a week, 9.30am-5pm (9.30am-4.30pm, November to January).

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
£4
Children
£2
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s
Other discounts

Concession: £3

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby changing
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Refreshments
  • Picnic area
  • Binocular hire
  • Guided walks
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site

Accessibility

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.

Get directions from Google Maps
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

Only registered assistance dogs allowed into visitor centre, reserve trails and hides. Non-assistance dogs may be exercised on a lead in the car park only. Nearby Burton Marsh and Parkgate parts of the reserve have permissive footpaths where dogs are welcome on short leads.

Group booking information

We regularly welcome small groups of up to 20 people, with plenty of space to explore the reserve together. Groups of more than 10 people must book in advance, and guided tours are available for an additional charge. Bookings can be made by email on deeestuary@rspb.org.uk or telephone on 0151 353 2720.

The reserve does not have coach parking facilities, however we can accommodate coach groups, with further information available on enquiry.

Schools booking information

We do not have an active schools on reserves programme, but can accommodate self-led visits on request.

There are resources available for KS1 and KS2 groups, charged at £50 for up to 30 children for a half day visit.

What will the weather be like?

18 degrees, Cloudy

Downloads

helping you find your way around. PDF, 83Kb

Dee Estuary - Burton Meres trail guide

Contact Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands

What will you see?

Our star species

Recent sightings

Buzzard in flight

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Burton Mere Wetlands.

Read more

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.

Seasonal highlights

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

On land historically reclaimed from the estuary, we transformed former arable fields into a rich wet grassland with shallow scrapes and lagoons to create a home for a variety of wading birds and wildfowl. A modest reedbed supports an abundance of warblers in spring and provides good feeding areas for herons, egrets and kingfishers.

Parts of the land are still farmed, with two bird cover crops to provide food and shelter for flocks of farmland birds in winter, and pastures for our large flock of sheep to be brought off the saltmarsh at high tides and lambing season. On arrival, ancient woodland greets visitors with ample oaks and in spring a stunning bluebell carpet. 

Conservation

Our top priority here is managing the wet grassland for breeding lapwings in spring and summer, whilst smaller numbers of redshanks also nest here. This is achieved through seasonal cattle grazing and mowing to keep the grass short, removal of rushes and weeds like ragwort.

Iconic avocets are one of the star birds nesting on islands across the main scrape. The same areas become home to vast flocks of wildfowl and wading birds in winter as we hold the water higher.

The pools and ditches provide ample food for little egrets, with one of the country’s largest colonies nesting in an adjacent woodland. Less common great white egrets and cattle egrets are regular visitors and are hoped to establish themselves on the estuary soon.

Partners

Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Site information

The RSPB first established the reserve here in 1986 after buying an abandoned crop field from the local council. Three lagoons were created to offer protected feeding and roosting areas to the birds from the adjacent estuary, and a single hide opened to visitors in 1992. Following the purchase of more farmland to extend the wetland, a Heritage Lottery Fund grant allowed new visitor facilities to be developed and the site opened as Burton Mere Wetlands in 2011. Perfect if you're new to birdwatching, the entire reserve has been designed to get you closer to nature.

The original hide remains an integral part of the reserve and marks the end of the mile-long visitor trail. Remains of an Iron Age hillfort sit atop Burton Point, from where unrivalled views across the estuary highlight the extent of the saltmarsh which is also under our protection, making one of the RSPB’s largest reserves in the country.

Latest blog posts

Read our blog

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.

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.

Events

Monday 23 July
Wildlife Wander at Burton Mere Wetlands
Cheshire
Saturday 28 July
Big Wild Sleepout at Burton Mere Wetlands
Cheshire
Thursday 2 August
Badger Watch
Cheshire
More events

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