Dee Estuary - Parkgate

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 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 Dee Estuary – Parkgate nature reserve, The Parade, Parkgate, Cheshire, CH64 6SA

Grid ref: SJ273789

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

The Parkgate reserve is a vast saltmarsh beside a former seaside promenade. This unique setting provides the perfect combination of stunning landscapes, rich wildlife and excellent eateries. Come at high tide if possible, when you can see the ducks, geese, wading birds and birds of prey up close.

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

Facilities

Car park
Pushchair friendly
Picnic area
Guided walks

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Neston station is 2 miles (3.2 km) away.

By bus

Buses run to Parkgate every hour.

By bike

The reserve is close to Route 56 of the National Cycle Network, the Wirral Way.

By road

Parkgate is reached from the A540 Chester to Hoylake road, via the B5135. The reserve is best viewed from the Old Baths car park at the north end of The Parade (B5135), accessed via Boathouse Lane from the A540.

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

Groups are welcome at any time.

With no RSPB facilities, the reserve is served by public car parks and footpaths. The car parks have height restriction barriers making them unsuitable for coaches, however limited roadside parking is available along The Parade.

14 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Dee Estuary - Parkgate

RSPB Dee Estuary – Parkgate nature reserve, The Parade, Parkgate, Cheshire, CH64 6SA
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk
0151 353 2720
@RSPB_BurtonMere
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Hen harrier

Hen harriers are winter visitors to Parkgate. You can see them hunting low over the marshes.

Little egret

These dainty little white herons can be seen throughout the year at Parkgate.

Merlin

In autumn and winter, keep your eyes peeled for a dashing merlin on a high-speed hunt.

Short-eared owl

Short-eared owls can be seen hunting here from autumn through to early spring.

Skylark

Spring visits to Parkgate will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks.

Nature spectacles

On a tide of 10m or higher around the spring and autumn equinox the vast saltmarsh can be completely inundated, flushing small mammals from the grasses sparking a feeding frenzy for birds of prey. Meanwhile vast flocks of wildfowl and waders are forced upstream, heading for drier ground on the inner marsh or even Burton Mere Wetlands.

You can see little egrets and grey herons stalking creeks, redshanks, skylarks and meadow pipits nesting and displaying.

Keep an eye out for redshanks on territory, barn owls at dusk, swifts and swallows, and some great sunsets.

Autumn sees the return of the pink-footed geese to winter roost/feeding areas. There are increased marsh harriers coming for winter, and spotted redshank and greenshank on passage.

Over winter, you can see hen harriers, merlins, pink-footed geese and stonechats.

About Dee Estuary - Parkgate

Habitat

Extensive saltmarsh that hosts nesting skylarks and redshanks in spring and summer, and thousands of wildfowl and wading birds in winter.

Conservation

By owning this part of the estuary we are able to protect it from any damaging activities or development and ensure the saltmarsh and mudflats remain the best possible home for the thousands of wetland birds, that return to the estuary each winter.

Partners

Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Site information

Until the 1950s, Parkgate was a seaside resort with golden sands. However, man’s influence on the estuary led to the rapid spread of saltmarsh which now makes up this part of the Dee Estuary reserve. In 1979, the RSPB purchased more than 2000ha of intertidal marsh and mudflat from British Steel to protect the area for the birds who make the estuary their winter home.

Now designated as a SSSI and SPA for its winter wildfowl and wading bird numbers, and the saltmarsh is a designated SAC for the special plant assemblages growing here.

Latest blog posts

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Activities and events

Leisure activities

Birdwatching, short or long walks, award-winning ice cream shops and fantastic fish and chips.

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Dee Estuary - Parkgate