Marazion Marsh

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, Wales 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 Marazion Marsh, Marazion Beach, Marazion TR17 0AA

Grid ref: SW510312

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

In the shadow of St Michael's Mount near Penzance, Marazion Marsh is a small reedbed which plays home to a variety of wetland birds. Over the years, the reserve has become an important wintering site for bitterns and a regular stopover for the globally threatened aquatic warbler.

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

Viewing point
Educational facilities

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The closest station is Penzance.

By bus

First Group buses run from Penzance Bus Station to Marazion (and from St Ives in summer). Alight at Godolphin Place opposite St Michael’s Mount car park.

By bike

This reserve is on Route 3 of the National Cycle Network.

By road

Marazion Station car park is well signposted at the junction. After parking, walk back onto the main road and turn right. Continue down this road and you will find the viewing bay on your left, followed by the entrance gate to the reserve.

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

With a view of St Michael's Mount and a beach to explore, this is the ideal place for children to discover more about the coast and wetland ecosystems.

You can visit any Friday, all year round.
Cost: Free (this scheme is funded by Natural England).
Time: Two hours, either in the morning or afternoon. (Morning: Bookings usually start at 9.30am. Afternoon: bookings start from 12.30pm, but no later than 2pm.)
We offer a facilitated visit for up to 18 pupils at a time.
There are no toilets or hand-washing facilities on the reserve but there are in the near-by car parks.
We provide all materials including binoculars and identification sheets.
Children need to bring suitable clothing for an outdoor field trip. (ie warm coat, hat and gloves/sun hat and sun screen/strong shoes or Wellington boots).

For more information, please e-mail marazion.marsh@rspb.org.uk.

13 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Marazion Marsh

RSPB Marazion Marsh, Marazion Beach, Marazion TR17 0AA
cornwall@rspb.org.uk
01736 360624

What will you see?

Our star species

Cetti's warbler

Cetti's warblers are recent colonists of the UK.

Chiffchaff

Most British chiffchaffs migrate to southern Europe or Africa for winter, but some birds stay in the mild south-west of England.

Grey heron

Grey herons usually build nests high up in trees, but the Marazion birds prefer to build theirs in the reedbed.

Little egret

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

Starling

The Marazion starling roost in late autumn/winter is a must-see.

Nature spectacles

In some years starlings roost here from October-December and attract aerial predators such as buzzards and sparrowhawks as they arrive at dusk. The starlings are continental birds and their spectacular aerial acrobatics over the reedbeds are a sight worth seeing - when they are here.

Look out for late bitterns around the pools and early sand martins hawking for flies over the reedbeds. Grey herons breed on the marsh - the birds here are unusual in that they nest in the reeds rather than in trees.

The yellow flag makes a fine show against the green of this year's phragmites reeds. Look out for young warblers in the marsh and willows. By August, many species will have started their autumn migration - this is the last chance you will have to see any swifts.

Migrants arrive from the north - look for wheatears and meadow pipits in the 'Sanctuary Area'. You can see little egrets in the pools and water rails (or even the very rare spotted crake) in the muddier areas. By October, the first starlings start to come to roost in the reedbed, a precursor to the much larger gatherings later in the year.

You can sometimes see the major spectacle of the starling roost, when there can be several thousand individuals coming in for sanctuary in the reedbed. This is also when their predators show up - sparrowhawks and buzzards. However, starling flocks move regularly and do not roost here every year.

About Marazion Marsh

Habitat

Marazion Marsh protects the largest reedbed in Cornwall, together with other wetland features, willow scrub and grassland. It is an important wintering site for bitterns and a regular stopover for the globally threatened aquatic warbler. Other wetland birds include grey herons, waterfowl and warblers.

Conservation

The RSPB is managing the reserve for its wildlife and to produce a more mature wetland ecosystem. We are also developing the reserve for visitors and to benefit the local economy.

We aim to increase the number of wintering bitterns, and encourage at least one pair to breed, by extending the reedbed – keeping 80 per cent flooded and leaving the rest as dry reedbed. We also maintain open water by cutting back encroaching reeds, and will build up populations of fish and aquatic invertebrates.

We work to maintain the willow scrub and nearby woodland for key birds and invertebrates, including Cetti’s warblers. We maintain 3ha of unimproved grassland for key species, including stonechats, by controlling scrub encroachment and mowing for optimum sward height.

We inform our management of the site through research and monitoring.

Site information

This reserve overlooks the beautiful St Michael's Mount and boasts Cornwall's largest reedbed. More than 250 bird, 500 plant, 500 insect and 18 mammal species have been recorded here and bitterns are now regular winter visitors (although patience is required to see them).

As an important area for wildlife, it has Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status and is a Natura 2000 site.

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