Stanford Wharf

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: Wharf Rd, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0EE (Nearest address)

Grid ref: TQ693811

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

Stanford Wharf has been created to provide a home for wildlife, in particular wintering wading birds like avocet and curlew. The intertidal mudflat here forms one part of the internationally important Thames estuary. Enjoy a walk with superb views towards another RSPB reserve, Cliffe Pools.

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

Car park
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Stanford-le-Hope is the nearest train station, 1.6 km (1 mile) from reserve. From the station, there are regular services from Southend Central and London Fenchurch Street. From the station exit, turn right onto London Road, continue along Church Hill and bear right down Wharf Road. Continue down this road, after passing underneath the railway bridge take the right-hand fork in the road. From the reserve entrance the information board is 200m into the reserve down the hedgerow-lined track. For more information about train times please visit the C2C website before you travel.

By bus

The nearest bus stop is on Corringham Road on the No. 100 Chelmsford to Lakeside bus route. Turn left on to Wharf Road then as above.

By bike

National Cycle Route 13 (under development).

By road

From Southend or the M25, travel along the A13 and leave at the Stanford-le-Hope junction. Take the first exit from the A1014 to Southend Road, taking the fourth exit on the roundabout towards the town centre. Follow the one-way system from the second left onto the High Street. Follow the road along until you reach the junction with The Green, turn left and then before the road bends turn right. Follow Wharf Road and after the railway bridge take the right-hand turn. On-road parking is available at the end of Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope, SS17 0EG.

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

16 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Stanford Wharf

Wharf Rd, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0EE (Nearest address)
southessex@rspb.org.uk
01268 498620
@RSPBEssex
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Avocet

Our emblem and a truly iconic bird, the avocet may gather here in large numbers through the colder months of the year.

Black-tailed godwit

This is perfect habitat for this large wading bird and you may see large flocks of them all year round in flight on or around the reserve.

Curlew

They're around most of the year, but your best bet to see one is in winter.

Dunlin

Dunlin congregate in vast 'flings' to feed on the fertile mudflats of the estuary.

Grey plover

This winter visitor can be singled out by its distinctive gait, running along perfectly upright and stopping suddenly to start feeding.

In spring, listen out for some of the first cuckoos arriving in the UK. Waders will be 'refuelling' on the mudflats as they move between breeding and wintering grounds. You may also spot one of the most iconic birds to visit the UK and star of our logo - the avocet.

See if you can spot the beautiful downy feathers of the little grebe on the water before they dive to feed. Near the trees, listen out for the distinctive cackle of the green woodpecker - you might spot their bounding flight when they move across open ground.

Watch the passage of birds as they migrate between breeding and wintering grounds. The last swallows of summer will be among those passing through on their way to Africa. You can also hear the haunting call of the curlew or the one of the great countryside sounds from the yellowhammer.

Watch out for impressive numbers of wintering waterfowl and waders, such as dunlin, moving around the estuary. Also, mixed flocks will be moving through the hedgerows including groups of reed buntings.

About Stanford Wharf

Habitat

Stanford Wharf has been created to provide a home for wildlife, in particular wintering wading birds. The reserve includes intertidal mudflat, scrubland, grassland, a balancing pond, a newt pond and a large length of sea wall. Stanford Wharf is developing as a feeding and roosting site for wintering and passage water birds, including shelduck, teal, wigeon, avocet, ringed plover, dunlin, grey plover, black-tailed godwit and redshank.

Conservation

Stanford Wharf nature reserve was created as compensatory habitat as part of the London Gateway Port development, replacing intertidal habitat that was lost. The site is developing well and has been designed to provide mudflat area next to the Mucking Flats Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area (for birds). It is important this site functions for feeding waders and wildfowl, but also provides roosting opportunities on the spit ends for birds when the tide is in and they can’t feed on the mud.

Site information

The nature reserve is 35 hectares in size. The old sea walls are particularly important as birds will snuggle up to roost on the ends of these at high tide, before they feed on the mudflats of Stanford Wharf and the Thames estuary when the tide is out. Stanford Wharf has 2.3km of visitor access with 1.2km of this being permissive nature trails and 1.1km of public footpath. There are two viewing points over the mudflats. The Thames Estuary Path runs through this reserve.

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