Frampton Marsh

In line with Government guidance on essential, daily exercise outdoors, our car parks and trails are open. Our visitor centre, toilets, hides and refreshments are closed. See full facilities information below. We urge you to follow the legislation around non-essential travel and please visit your most local nature reserves and green spaces only. Please observe current guidelines on social distancing, face coverings, group sizes, hygiene and follow all signage on-site. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you for your support and understanding.

Address: RSPB Frampton Marsh, Roads Farmhouse, Frampton Roads, Frampton, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 1AY

Grid ref: TF356392

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

Blessed with a variety of freshwater habitats, Frampton Marsh provides close views of the abundant birdlife of The Wash, one of Europe's most special places for wildlife. Avocets, redshanks, skylarks and whimbrels can all be seen in summer, with thousands of ducks gathering on the freshwater scrapes in winter.

Plan your visit

Car parks and trails: open during lockdown, daily at all times.
Toilets: closed during lockdown
Visitor Centre: closed during lockdown
Hides: closed during lockdown

Festive opening times:

21 and 22 December: reserve trails and car park open 24 hours. Toilets open 10am-4pm, all other facilities closed.
23 December - Christmas Day: reserve and car park open 24 hours. All other facilities including toilets closed.
Boxing Day - 28 December: All facilities open where covid restrictions allow. Toilets, takeaway refreshments and covid secure welcome point 10am-4pm.
29 December - New Year's Eve: reserve trails and car park open from 24 hours. Toilets open 10am-4pm, all other facilities closed.
New Year’s Day onwards: All facilities open where covid restrictions allow. Toilets, takeaway refreshments and covid secure welcome point 10am-4pm.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: £2

Children: £1
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s

Student: £1.30

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Visitor centre is closed
Car park
Toilets are closed
Accessible toilets are closed
Baby changing is closed
Pushchair friendly
Refreshments facilities are closed
Picnic area is closed
Binocular hire is closed
Guided walks is closed
Viewing points are closed
Nature trails

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

Boston is the nearest train station, about 4 miles (6.4 km) away.

By bus

The nearest bus stop is in Kirton village, approximately 3 miles (5 km) from reserve. The 113 Brylaine bus and the 58 Kimes bus run from Boston from Monday to Saturday.

The ‘Call Connect’ on demand bus service from Boston operates 7am – 7pm weekdays, 8am – 6pm Saturday. For more details call 0845 2343344 or visit lincsinterconnect.com.

By bike

National Cycle Route 1 is approx 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the reserve entrance.

By road

The reserve is signposted from the A16 between Boston and Kirton. Follow the brown signs to RSPB Frampton Marsh.

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.

Other ways to get there

The Macmillan Way long-distance footpath (starting in Boston) crosses the reserve.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome on the public footpath round the reserve. Please keep to the designated rights of way on the Grassland trail only. Reedbed trail and the path to East Hide are not public footpaths, so sorry, no dogs are permitted here other than assistance dogs.

Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats and livestock 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 so we’ve created designated dog-friendly routes for you and your pooch to enjoy. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose 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 here by keeping your dog on a lead and under close, effective control.

A Dog water bowl and shaded tie-up area is available at the front of the visitor centre.
Sorry, dogs aren’t permitted in the visitor centre other than assistance dogs.
Dogs can die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.

*Groups are usually welcome to visit the reserve during normal opening hours. However, changes to laws in England and Scotland mean that the maximum group size able to visit our reserves together is currently 6, unless you are from the same household or bubble. Therefore, we are currently unable to accept group bookings at this time*

Coach groups are welcome. Please contact the reserve to reserve the coach parking bay.

Due to Covid-19 measures, we are currently not taking school bookings until further notice.

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

14 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 114kb

Frampton marsh trail map

Contact Frampton Marsh

RSPB Frampton Marsh, Roads Farmhouse, Frampton Roads, Frampton, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 1AY
lincolnshirewashreserves@rspb.org.uk
01205 724678
@RSPBFrampton
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Avocet

Expect to see good numbers of this elegant wading bird in the spring and summer around the scrapes as they build their nests and raise their chicks.

Brent goose

Flocks of brent geese come to feed on the fields and saltmarsh in winter, down from their summering grounds of Siberia.

Hen harrier

Hen harriers are winter visitors to Frampton. Look for them gliding low over the saltmarsh or fields, hunting for small birds or mammals.

Lapwing

Their impressive aerobatic displays can be seen throughout spring and into the summer. In the winter they form large flocks on the grassland with other plovers.

Redshank

A real success story at Frampton with more than 200 pairs nesting regularly. Listen for their loud alarm calls.

In spring, passage and breeding waders, including a large avocet colony, can be seen on the freshwater scrapes and wet grasslands. Nesting lapwings and skylarks are very vocal on the wet grasslands. Keep an eye out for 'mad' march hares.

Summer is a fantastic time of year for passage waders. Frampton provides one of the best opportunities to see common and scarce waders in the country. The saltmarsh is alive with colour at this time of year - it's the best time to see hunting marsh harriers.

In autumn, the first returning brent geese can be seen grazing on the saltmarsh and wet grasslands. The highest tides of the year are in September and these can force thousands of waders to roost on the wet grasslands and freshwater scrapes. Kingfishers take up a winter residence in the tidal creeks of the marsh and on the wetland ditches. Keep an eye out for sea aster mining bees.

The winter can be spectacular, with thousands of wigeons, teals, brent geese, lapwings and golden plover all packed onto the wet grasslands. Whooper swans roost on the reedbed each night and with luck you may see a small flock of twites, or even the elusive Lapland bunting.

About Frampton Marsh

Habitat

Frampton Marsh is a coastal reserve set up to bring The Wash closer to you. It is primarily made up of wetlands, reedbeds, large freshwater scrapes and wet grassland.

Conservation

Frampton Marsh is on the Lincolnshire shore of The Wash, the UK’s most important estuary for wildlife. Varied and dynamically managed habitats such as reedbed, scrapes and wet grassland are designed to be good for both nature and visitors alike. The reserve is an internationally important place for wintering wildfowl and a crucial place for both migrating and breeding waders.

Site information

Frampton Marsh is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK. It is at the leading edge of visitor and habitat nature conservation planning. Facilities include a visitor centre, more than 3km of accessible footpaths to explore and three hides - two with 360-degree views.

Latest blog posts

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Families are always made welcome. You can get really close views of birds from the visitor centre, where we've provided telescopes for visitors to use. There's also an RSPB guide on hand who will be happy to answer your questions. Binoculars can be hired from the visitor centre and taken out around the reserve. There are many childrens' activities including events and treasure trails during school holidays.

There are wildlife explorer backpacks available for children to hire. Free games are also available to keep them interested as they walk around.

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Frampton Marsh