RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our History
    • What we do
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Our History

      Our History

      Discover how a campaign against feathers in fashion sparked a global force to save nature with more than a million members

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Policy and Insight
    • Policy and Insight: England and Westminster
    • Casework
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds and wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • What is the Red List for UK birds?
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Birds and Wildlife Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Bird migration

      Bird migration

      Migrating birds have travelled thousands of miles just to get here. Find out why.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get Involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • #MyClimateAction
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Campaigning in Scotland
    • Campaigning in Wales
    • Campaigning in England
    • Campaigning in Northern Ireland
    • The nature and climate emergency
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events Find a reserve
      Top reserves this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • Robin Robin
    • Cameron's Cottage
    • Your Support
    • About Cameron's cottage
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Nature is stronger with you on its side. Become a Life Fellow today.
    • Renew your membership
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy & Major Gifts
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • In Memory Donations
    • Plant a celebration tree
    • In Memory Booklet
    • Leave a gift to nature in your Will
    • Why Include a Gift to Nature in Your Will
    • How to Include us in Your Will
    • Information for executors & solicitors
    • Download your free guide
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Newport Wetlands

Newport Wetlands

gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre, West Nash Road, Nash, Newport         NP18 2BZ
Grid ref
ST334834
What3Words
into.festivity.else
Covid-19 updates for RSPB nature reserves

 

 

Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve lies between the Severn Estuary and the River Usk on the South Wales coast. It is owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales, working in partnership with RSPB Cymru, Newport City Council and others, for the benefit of wildlife and people.

 

 

Plan your visit

Opening times

Car park and toilets are open daily 9am to 5pm (locked outside of these times). The parking charge is £4 for non-members, free for members.

The RSPB shop is available daily between 10am and 4:30pm and the cafe is available daily between 10am and 4pm.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free
Car park cost
  • £4 parking fee for non-members (pay at Visitor Centre)
  • RSPB members park free

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby changing
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Café
  • Picnic area
  • Binocular hire
  • Guided walks
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Shop
  • Educational facilities
  • Play area is closed

Accessibility

  • Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By train

The nearest railway station is Newport (approx. 5 miles from reserve).

By bus

Number 63 bus from Newport city centre goes to the visitor centre, is a demand responsive service. For booking details contact Newport Bus on 01633 211202.

By bike

Sustrans National Cycle Network route 4 has a branch to Newport Wetlands using existing roads. The car park has a covered cycle stand. Cycling on the reserve is restricted to a designated route.

By road

Join the A48 at either junction 24 or 28 of the M4. Follow the A48 until you come to the Spytty Retail Park roundabout. Exit onto the A4810 Queensway Meadows. At the first roundabout take the third exit onto Meadows Road and follow the brown tourist signs 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
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

There is one permissive dog walking route on the perimeter of the reserve marked by pawprint signs. You can get a map from the visitor centre, where there are tethering rings and a drinking bowl at the entrance.

Registered assistance dogs are welcome (please do not be offended if we ask for evidence of registration).

Schools booking information

School visits will return to Newport Wetlands from 9 May 2022 and we are now open for bookings.

The whole reserve is rich in wildlife habitats with a huge variety of land and pond minibeasts, birds, and plants. It’s the perfect place for your pupils to discover, learn and explore, with help from our expert team who are accredited by Learning Outside the Classroom. We offer a range of hands-on activities for primary and secondary pupils.

Primary school visits cost £4 per pupil for a half-day (minimum charge £80) and £6.50 per pupil for a full day (minimum charge £130). For secondary costs, please call us on 01633 636363. Each programme is designed to last between one and a half to two hours; sessions run from 10am - 12pm, and then 12.30pm - 2.30pm.

To find out more, and view the programmes offered, visit our school trip ideas page.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 163Kb

Newport wetlands trail guide - bilingual

Advice for Gwent Level land owners. PDF, 6MB

Gwent Levels Advisory Booklet Bilingual

Contact Newport Wetlands

  • RSPB Newport Wetlands Visitor Centre, West Nash Road, Nash, Newport         NP18 2BZ
  • newport-wetlands@rspb.org.uk
  • 01633 636363

Save nature with a staycation in the UK

Family arriving at a Travel Chapter cottage

Saving the nature that you love for future generations to enjoy. Make the most of your visit by staying in one of thousands of handpicked cottages across the UK. Simply book your stay here to support our partnership. Throughout 2021 holidaycottages.co.uk are supporting our conservation work – saving species and restoring habitats right across the UK at a time when the future of our planet has never been more important and protecting nature for future generations.

BOOK NOW

#ThanksToYou

Over the past 24 years, grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund have helped to make our nature reserves like Newport Wetlands even better places for wildlife and people. To say thank you, we’re offering National Lottery players a special treat, on us.

Discover your treat

What will you see?

Our star species

    Bearded tit male

    Bearded tit

    Bearded tit perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.

    Dunlin, breeding plumage

    Dunlin

    Dunlin can be seen at Newport Wetlands at almost any time.

    Little Egret

    Little egret

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

    Little grebe, summer plumage

    Little grebe

    Listen for little grebe 'whinnying' in spring as part of their courtship displays.

    Male shoveler

    Shoveler

    Shoveler are commonest here in winter, but are also a regular breeding bird.

Recent sightings

Children birdwatching, at the opening of RSPB Newport Wetlands Centre, Newport, Wales

Find out more about recent wildlife sightings at Newport Wetlands.

read more

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Breeding waders at the reserve including lapwings and oystercatchers can be seen and bearded tits begin to nest in the reedbeds. Swallows and swifts begin arriving from Africa and the distinctive call of the cuckoo can be heard.

There are 16 species of dragonfly, rare bees and an abundance of butterfly and day flying moths. Grass snakes bask in the sunshine and 5 species of orchid grow here. Weasels and stoats are frequently seen darting for cover.

Groups of goldfinches can be seen flitting around the reserve. Migratory wildfowl and wading birds begin to arrive ready for their winter stay and curlews, redshanks, dunlins and oystercatchers feed on the estuary.

During winter, the starlings take refuge overnight at the reserve. At dusk around 50,000 birds fly overhead giving a breath-taking display before roosting in the reedbeds. Bitterns are rare and extremely secretive, but are seen regularly at this time of year. The reserve also provides a winter sanctuary for wildfowl such as pochard, shoveler and shelduck.

About Newport Wetlands

Habitat

Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve encompasses wetland, reedbed and estuary habitats.

Conservation

The Newport Wetlands project was funded by the European Union's Objective Two programme supported by the Welsh Assembly Government and secured via the Newport European Partnership, Newport City Council's allocation of the Welsh Assembly Government's Local Regeneration Fund, Newport City Council's Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, the Environment Agency Wales and Visit Wales – the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks.

Natural Resources Wales, Newport City Council and the RSPB would like to thank the communities of Newport and the volunteers who have supported Newport Wetlands.

Partners

Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve lies between the Severn Estuary and the River Usk on the South Wales coast. It is owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales, working in partnership with RSPB Cymru, Newport City Council and others, for the benefit of wildlife and people.

Natural Resources Wales
Newport City Council
Welsh Government
European Union objective 2

Site information

Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Latest forum posts

  • Bearded Tits at Newport Wetlands 17/11/2021

    Had a pleasant walk around the wetlands this morning. Weather was quite cool but there wasn't too much wind and visibility was good. At the screen looking across the water towards the wobbly bridge my wife spotted a Snipe. She heard Bearded Reedlings...

    Posted 17/11/2021 by Colin L
  • LBJ

    Hi Sorry for my poor description here... We were rushing back to the car at RSPB Newport wetlands yesterday just before the car park closed at 5pm. In the hedgerow there was a LBJ singing its heart out on a branch about a metre above or head height. ...

    Posted 17/03/2020 by Cornish Crane
  • Clearing the foreshore

    The Newport Wetlands foreshore is a place where few people go; there’s a clear division between the top of the sea wall with the Wales Coast Path and the bottom with its SSSI status.  To climb down the seawall, you need to work with Natural Resources...

    Posted 23/03/2019 by Jeremy.White
  • Farewell Newport wetlands

    I cannot see me ever visiting Newport Wetlands Uskmouth again, partly due to health issues but mostly due to corporate greed  This is mainly due to the imposition of charges for non RSPB members to use the Public carpark at the Newport Wetlands NNR a...

    Posted 09/05/2018 by barman58
read our forum

Latest blog posts

  • Recent sightings 16.05.22 – It’s GO GO GO here at Newport

    Image credit: Terry Winter What a busy two weeks it has been here at the wetlands! The breeding season is in full swing with many species either wandering round with a trail of fluff or flying over the lagoons hoping to catch a fish. From mallard duc...

    Posted 24/05/2022 by Kirsty Lindsay
  • Yogi Duck and me

    Yogi Duck and the Little Chick picturebook written and illustrated by ©IsabelBenavides This month, on 30 May 2022, RSPB Newport Wetlands Reserve will be delivering a brand new, bespoke storytelling session for families, ‘Yogi Duck and the Little Chic...

    Posted 19/05/2022 by Kirsty Lindsay
  • Recent Sightings 2.5.22 - bumblebees, booming and babies

    The past week or two have really been the fulfilment of Spring.  The air has been full of song from our year-round birds and from our newly arrived migrants.  We’ve been listening to the earlier migrants for a few weeks, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, fo...

    Posted 09/05/2022 by Kirsty Lindsay
  • Recent sightings 25.4.22 A cuckoo is better late than never

    After a long waiting game, the iconic sound of the cuckoo circled the reserve this week. A quiet Thursday morning was soon flipped on its head as visitors descended off the reserve with beaming smiles, eager to share the good news. It has been heard ...

    Posted 04/05/2022 by Kirsty Lindsay
read our blog

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Newport Wetlands visitor centre is ideal for children and families. Guided walks and children's activities are available on the reserve, drinks and a bite to eat can be enjoyed in the cafe afterwards, followed by a browse in the shop.

We have spotting sheets and self-led trails all year round, encouraging you to take a closer look at the reserve. We also run an exciting programme of events that all the family will enjoy throughout the year, especially during the school holidays, many of these scoring points for the RSPB Wild Challenge.

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

Share this

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

You might also be interested in

Aerial view of Newport Wetlands, Wales

Schools at Newport Wetlands

We have a classroom and a full range of equipment to support a range of hands-on activities

Starling murmurations

A murmuration of starlings is an amazing sight - a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above
RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Join us - legacy

Become an RSPB member by signing up here.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Email

Partnering with

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International.

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy