Fowlmere

Address: RSPB Fowlmere, Mill Rd, Royston SG8 6EZ

Grid ref: TL406461

What3Words: informed.spreads.petrified

Fowlmere Nature Reserve (SSSI, 41ha) is a well-loved wildlife oasis set within farmland. Its former water-cress beds are now reedbed, fen, chalk grassland and scrub, while the area also holds a small but fine example of a chalk stream, one of the UK’s rarest habitats.

Plan your visit

Nature reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.
Car park: open daily, dawn-dusk.

Festive opening times

Christmas Eve: open, dawn-dusk.
Christmas Day: open, dawn-dusk.
Boxing Day: open, dawn-dusk.
New Year’s Eve: open, dawn-dusk.
New Year’s Day: open, dawn-dusk.
All other days in the festive period are open our usual opening hours as above.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, however a donation is suggested

Children: Free, however a donation is suggested

Car park cost

There are no entrance charges to the reserve, but the following car parking charges apply:

RSPB members: FREE (please display your membership card face down in your windscreen)
Non-members: £2 per car
Blue badge holders: FREE

Please note we are currently waiting for a replacement car parking payment machine due to circumstances beyond our control. We are accepting cash donations (suggested donation of £2), in lieu of parking tickets, which can be deposited at the Welcome Hut.

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Pushchair friendly
Picnic area
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

The nearest train station is Shepreth, approximately 2 miles (3.5 km) away.

By bus

The nearest bus stop is Dunsbridge Turnpike (outside Country Homes & Gardens), 1 mile (1.5 km) from the reserve.

By road

From the A10 (Cambridge to Royston) turn towards Fowlmere at the Fowlmere-Shepreth crossroads. After 1 mile (1.5 km), turn right by the cemetery. Follow road for 0.6 mile (1 km) and turn left into the reserve at the RSPB sign.

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

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Sorry, dogs are not permitted on the reserve, 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.

Dogs can die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.
Does are permitted on the public bridleway, please keep dogs on a lead while on the reserve.

Please follow current Government guidance on group sizes when visiting the reserve. Group bookings are usually welcome to visit us during normal opening hours.

Due to Covid-19 measures, we have temporarily paused our school visits until September 2021. For information on our exciting programme of curriculum-linked outdoor education sessions, visit our school trips information here.

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

Management and maintenance work is done by volunteers every Thursday. We try to minimise disturbance to visitors and wildlife, but some temporary disturbance may occur.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 795Kb

Fowlmere trail guide

Contact Fowlmere

RSPB Fowlmere, Mill Rd, Royston SG8 6EZ
fowlmere@rspb.org.uk
01767 693013

What will you see?

Our star species

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a year-round attraction at Fowlmere.

Reed bunting

Reed buntings are most obvious in spring when the males sing from the tops of the reeds.

Sedge warbler

Another warbler that returns from Africa in spring, the sedge warbler is easy to see.

Water rail

Can be seen when the water drops in late summer and autumn or onto ice in winter.

Nature spectacles

Fowlmere is one of the best reserves in Eastern England to encounter breeding turtle doves. The small but beautiful River Shep is a fine example of a chalk stream, with brown trout and water voles.

In spring and summer, Fowlmere is great place to see marsh harriers circling above. A wide variety of warblers sing among the scrub, while passage waders and breeding lapwing can be seen around the mere. Orchids and other meadow flowers add a dash of colour in the chalky grassland and barn owl chicks can be seen peeping from specially provided nest boxes. It's possible to see water voles, trout and crayfish in the chalk stream

Autumn and winter are good times to see flocks of finches, buntings, thrushes and starlings roosting or feeding in the scrub, and catch a glimpse of a kingfisher and occasionally bittern or bearded tit. Brown trout breed in the chalk stream (River Shep). Large flocks of winter thrushes forage on the berry bushes in some years.

About Fowlmere

Habitat

Fowlmere Nature Reserve is a well-loved wildlife oasis set within farmland. Its former water-cress beds are now reedbed, fen, chalk grassland and scrub, home to breeding turtle dove, water rail and barn owl and winter roosts of reed bunting. Bearded tits and bitterns are found occasionally in winter, and otters and water voles are regularly seen. The reserve holds a small but fine example of a chalk stream, one of the UK’s rarest habitats.

Conservation

We hold work parties here almost every week, carrying out work ranging from management of habitats for wildlife to maintenance of visitor facilities.

Site information

Fowlmere, 41ha, is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK and an SSSI.

Management and maintenance work is done by volunteers every Thursday. We try to minimise disturbance to visitors and wildlife, but some temporary disturbance may occur.

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

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

Fowlmere