Rockland Marshes

We’re delighted to be open for visitors but our hide remains closed. See full facility details below. Please also #RespectProtectEnjoy the special wildlife here and each other – keeping to the paths and following signage on site. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below). Thank you.

Address: 10-12 New Inn Hill, Norwich NR14

Grid ref: TG327046

What3Words: state.gets.radiated

Covid-19 updates for RSPB nature reserves

This small reserve provides superb views over Rockland Broad, the River Yare, reedbeds and open grazing marshes, via a wheelchair-friendly path. A hide overlooks the Broad itself, where in spring and summer, kingfishers and great crested grebes can be seen. Take a quiet stroll and enjoy the peaceful river views.

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.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

Car park
Pushchair friendly
Viewing points are closed

Accessibility

Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

If you wish to travel by train it is best to stop at Norwich and take the bus.

By bus

Service 001 (limited times) runs from Norwich to Rockland St Mary village/Loddon, Monday to Saturday. Operated by Anglian Coaches, from All Saints Green, John Lewis layby. Walk out of village to Staithe car park.

Other ways to get there

Public moorings are available by the car park at Rockland Staithe.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Contact Rockland Marshes

10-12 New Inn Hill, Norwich NR14
strumpshaw@rspb.org.uk
01603 715191

What will you see?

Our star species

Barn Owls

When the barn owls have young to feed, you could see them at any time of day.

Cetti's warbler

Cetti's warblers are recent colonists of the UK which are very often hard to see.

Great crested grebe

Great crested grebes are known for their dramatic courtship displays and can be seen later in the year with their young.

Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a year-round attraction at Rockland, especially active in spring and summer.

Mute swan

Mute swans are resident at Rockland Marshes. In spring and summer, watch for the cygnets being attended to by their protective parents.

During spring, you can hear sedge, reed and grasshopper warblers sing from the Broad margins and ditches. Cetti's warblers sing loudly from the willows. Great crested grebes display on the water. Marsh harriers perform display flights over the reedbeds.

Over summer, mute swans gather to moult on the Broad. Barn owls and marsh harriers hunt over the grazing marshes. Kingfishers collect food for their young. Migrating ospreys regularly drop in to fish. Dragonflies are abundant along the water's edge.

Ospreys are regular visitors throughout autumn. Tufted ducks, pochards and goldeneyes arrive to spend winter on the Broad. Large numbers of gulls gather in the afternoon.

Tufted ducks, pochards and goldeneyes spend the winter on the Broad. Large numbers of gulls gather in the afternoon.

About Rockland Marshes

Habitat

Habitats at Rocklan Marshes include reedbeds, wet grassland, wet woodland, pools, ponds and ditches.

Conservation

Our work on our reedbeds includes removing scrub and invasive plants, summer mowing and grazing and seasonal flooding. We are also managing our fen meadow for its flora and breeding snipe by maintaining water levels, clearing rushes, grazing and mowing, and trampling with livestock to create boggy ground. We plan to restore more of this habitat.

We are managing our wet grassland for the benefit of wintering waterfowl and breeding waders, using grazing and topping to create suitable sward heights. We also cut back encroaching rushes and scrub, and control ditch water levels, while retaining boggy areas and pools.

We are managing our wet woodland for key breeding birds, including Cetti's warblers, willow tits and bullfinches. Our intervention here is minimal, except to control alien plants, protect standing dead wood and keep water levels high enough from April to July.

We are managing our pools, ponds and ditches for the benefit of aquatic flora, wildfowl, otters, water voles and bitterns. Work includes maintaining ditch edges, improving water quality, removing vegetation from open pools and increasing the number of fish.

Site information

This small reserve provides views over Rockland Broad, the River Yare, reedbeds and open grazing marshes, via a wheelchair-friendly path.

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