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Rye Meads

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Address
RSPB Rye Meads, Rye Rd, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire SG12 8JS
Grid ref
TL389103

This delightful wetland reserve beside the River Lee is a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers and photographers thanks to its many trails and hides. Common terns nest on specially-created rafts during the summer, while snipe, green sandpipers, shovelers, gadwalls and tufted ducks take over during the winter months. Artificial sandbanks are a great place to spot the blue flash of a kingfisher.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Open daily from 9am - 5pm or dusk if earlier. Closed 25 and 26 December.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free
Children
Free
Car park cost

£3 per vehicle for non-members.

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby changing
  • Refreshments
  • Picnic area
  • Binocular hire
  • Guided walks
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site
  • Educational facilities

Accessibility

  • Download full accessibility statement (PDF)

How to get here

By train

Rye House Station (400 yards/366 m). There is a direct train from Liverpool Street. Climb the steps out of the station and turn right towards Rye Meads, with the Historic Rye House Gatehouse on your left. Follow a footpath on the left side of the minor road for 300 m until you reach the visitor centre.

By bus

The nearest bus stop (700 yards/640 m) is in the Old Highway, which is off Rye Road. Walk down towards Rye House Station, then as above.

By bike

Rye Meads is accessible to cycles by road and the Lee Valley cycle way.

By road

Follow directions to Hoddesdon. Go straight over the large roundabout (you will have the Sun pub on your left), onto another section of dual carriageway. At the next roundabout, turn left into Essex Road. Turn left into Pindar Road, (before the railway crossing). Turn left onto a bridge on Normandy Way. Turn left into Fisherman's Way. Turn right over the bridge to the Rye Meads Visitor Centre.

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

Group booking information

Group bookings accepted.

Schools booking information

We offer a curriculum linked schools on reserve programme.

What will the weather be like?

12 degrees, Heavy rain

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 113Kb

Rye Meads trail guide

Contact Rye Meads

  • RSPB Rye Meads, Rye Rd, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire SG12 8JS
  • rye.meads@rspb.org.uk
  • 01992 708383
  • @RSPBRyeMeads
  • Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

    Common tern

    Common tern

    Visit the Gadwall Hide to see common terns nesting on specially made rafts.

    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    Artificial sand banks have been created to attract nesting kingfishers.

    Gadwall male

    Gadwall

    This subtly plumaged dabbling duck occurs here in winter on open water.

    Male kestrel

    Kestrel

    Kestrels nest in special boxes on the reserve.

    Green Sandpiper

    Green sandpiper

    The scrapes here attract green sandpipers in winter and in summer and early autumn.

Recent sightings

RSPB Rye Meads, family triathlon event, view from Draper hide

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Rye Meads.

read more

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Spring brings finches, tits, woodpeckers. There are plenty of wildfowl, such as gadwalls and shovelers, on the open water, along with little grebes.

In summer, the reserve is home to reed buntings singing from perches and cuckoos calling their name while hobbies hawk over the scrape. The lagoons provide feeding grounds for wildfowl broods such as tufted ducks and gadwalls. Warblers, common terns and kingfishers also make an appearance.

In autumn, waders including green sandpipers, snipe and lapwings can be seen on the scrapes. When evening draws in, starlings, buntings, and finches flock together, swirling over the reedbeds ready to roost in safety and warmth.

During the winter sightings of water rail and water fowl add to this wonderful sight. The elusive bittern lurking in the reeds could add to this winter picture at any time by providing a glimpse as it moves silently through the reedbed.

About Rye Meads

Habitat

Rye Meads is an RSPB-managed reserve which includes reedbeds, open water and a scrape.

Conservation

Our conservation efforts at Rye Meads includes:

  • Working to maintain and improve areas of open water for wintering wildfowl. 
  • Maintaining the scrapes and their muddy edges for the benefit of waders.
  • Providing artificial nesting banks for kingfishers and nesting rafts for common terns. We also hope to encourage breeding bitterns by expanding the reedbed.
  • Working to maintain the reedbed for wintering bitterns and breeding warblers.

Site information

Rye Meads is a 58.5 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Rye House, Hertfordshire. It is also part of the Lea Valley RAMSAR site (a group of internationally important wetland sites) and a Special Protection Area. 

Rye Meads provides a year-round wildlife spectacle for many visitors.

Latest forum posts

  • Kingfishers

    A great visit recently to Rye Meads with a small group and the highlight of kingfishers from the excellent hide near the bank. Unfortunately very few of us managed to get any photos of them as the hide was full of people who did not give up their pla...

    Posted 27/05/2017 by Christopher Y
  • My first visit to Rye Meads.....and the swans put on a show!

    I finally made it to the lovely Rye Meads reserve today.  The weather was gorgeous and I saw some fantastic birds but I thought the stars of the show deserved their own thread - after all, they caused quite a lot of comment in the Draper Hide: Ooo-er...

    Posted 26/03/2017 by Clare
  • A glorious Spring afternoon at Rye Meads

    The weather couldn't have been better for my first visit to Rye Meads - warm and sunny, with a nice breeze.  After chatting with Emma in the Visitor Centre I headed out onto the reserve to see what was about.  I didn't get very far: I love seeing the...

    Posted 27/03/2017 by Clare
  • Kingfisher 3rd Brood Fledging

    I guess the news is on Facebook/Twitter but thought I would go the old fashioned way and put it on the website as it hasn't been posted! Unfortunately it seems I will have to use the social media more to know anything these days. The 3rd brood succes...

    Posted 08/09/2016 by Simon Hurwitz
read our forum

Latest blog posts

  • 13 April 2018 - is it spring yet?

    A quick update of recent sightings A feeling of spring is in the air today! A mad dash down to the Gadwall hide to catch up with a freshly arrived pair of garganey was accompanied by singing willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, reed and sedge warble...

    Posted 13/04/2018 by vicky
  • We're changing our reserve entry charges. Find more details below.

    Posted 12/03/2018 by Bryony T
  • Drop in and have your say!

    Posted 04/03/2018 by Bryony T
  • Are you a photographer at Rye Meads? Read this!

    Posted 04/03/2018 by Bryony T
read our blog

What people are saying about Rye Meads

What a fantastic place! We were lucky enough to witness a kingfisher flying to and from the nest in the artificial sand bank - obviously feeding newly-hatched chicks. Another highlight for me was watching a water vole happily foraging about in the water. A truly amazing day out - we will definitely be returning for further visits!

Nicola

First time to Rye Meads and what a WONDERFUL day out! Watching birds here and there, with friendly staff and people who can tell you alot! We were even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a KINGFISHER!!! Beautiful colours! A really great place to go, off again next week! It was beautiful!

Alex Blackman

I loved Rye Meads the first time I visited. Since then, a super new visitor centre with toilets and picnic tables has been built, and everyone is really friendly. It's a great place for all the family; it’s a lovely place to have a walk and enjoy wildlife, great for everyone - I enjoyed visiting so much I began volunteering!

Marion Moss

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Hides provide excellent views of birds that can be seen by eye, enabling children to see wildlife. Special Explorer Backpacks are available for hire during your visit and there is a comprehensive programme of events, including nature trails, guided walks and family fun days.

Events

  • April
  • May
Saturday 28 April
Wildlife Watch
Hertfordshire
Sunday 6 May
Dawn Chorus Walk
Hertfordshire
Saturday 12 May
Wildlife Watch
Hertfordshire
Wednesday 16 May
Messy Wellies
Hertfordshire
Saturday 26 May
Wildlife Watch
Hertfordshire
Monday 28 May
VIP Kingfisher Morning
Hertfordshire
More events

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RSPB Rye Meads, family triathlon event, view from Draper hide

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