Events at Burton Mere Wetlands
Discover exciting events at Burton Mere Wetlands!
Download our trail map, to help you plan your visit.
Days out
Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
BurtonClosed | Opens 9:00 amSee opening timesStep into ancient woodland with towering oaks, before winding your way to the lagoons and grasslands beyond. You might see Avocets, with their up-curved beaks, or egrets or harriers. Treat yourself in our café.
About
*Please be advised the cafe's opening hours may change from day to day, please check the Facebook page for up to date information before you travel.*
The gateway to the Dee Estuary reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands straddles the border between England and Wales with a mosaic of freshwater wetland habitats, mixed farmland and woodland. The area is bursting with wildlife, hosting Avocets, egrets, harriers, Redshanks, Swallows and Swifts.
This is a place where wading birds and wildfowl thrive among wet grasslands, lagoons and shallow pools, known as scrapes. Reedbeds come alive with warblers in spring, with Grey Herons, egrets and Kingfishers often seen on the lookout for food. In the ancient woodland, Bluebells carpet the floor in spring, while fungi pop up come autumn.
Grazing livestock are used to manage our wet grassland area for breeding Lapwings and Redshanks.
At a glance
Open daily, 9am to 5pm. Closing time changes each month as follows:
November to January 4.30pm
The car park is locked outside of these times.
80 spaces. 6 Blue Badge spaces. Blue badge spaces 30m from Reception Hide. The lane leading to the car park is tarmac with speed bumps. The surface is compact gravel. There is a drop-off point 30 m from the Reception Hide.
No overnight parking or camping. Not suitable for coaches or large motorhomes - please ring or email for advice. Bicycle racks available.
Open daily. They located next to the visitor centre, and at the back of the cafe.
Open daily. They are located in the accessible toilet next to our visitor centre and at the back of the cafe.
Pushchair Accessible
Pushchair Accessible
Visitor centre: step-free with level entry. Nature trails access: Gorse Covert Woodland trail is 600 yards long, unsurfaced so can be muddy in wet weather.
Burton Mere trail takes about 20 minutes on level and compact gravel surface.
The Reedbed trail is a third of a mile long, on level and compact gravel surface ending at the Marsh Covert hide.
The Farm and Fen trail is 600 yards, a mix of boardwalk and level, compact gravel surface but has a moderate incline halfway along.
Inner Marsh Farm trail is 500 yards of natural grass and partially surfaced path across farmland, with steps and a short boardwalk leading to the Inner Marsh Farm hide. Three picnic tables have space for a wheelchair.
Open daily. We have two toilet blocks, one next to the visitor centre, and another at the back of the cafe.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Sorry, dogs are not permitted at Burton Mere Wetlands, except assistance dogs, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season.
Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
Use of personal or commercial drones on or over RSPB-owned property is prohibited.
See what’s here
Plan your visit
Download our trail map
Recent sightings at Burton Mere Wetlands
Species we've seen at Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands week ending 8th December...
- Seen on the scrapes Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Redshank, Ruff and Dunlin.
- Wintering ducks include Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall and Shelduck.
- Pink-footed Geese seen regularly flying over in large numbers and sometimes on the reserve.
- A large number of Marsh Harriers are often seen late afternoon, our largest count has been 19 acorss the reserve. Other raptors include Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Merlin and Buzzard.
- Tawny Owl sighted near Border Hide
- Kingfisher often seen on the meres and Water Rail near the boardwalk on the way to Border Hide
- Smaller birds to be seen on the feeders and trails Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Siskin and Goldcrest, also our winter visitors Redwing and Fieldfares are often seen.
- Cetti’s Warblers are often heard, but not always seen, and our resident Willow Tit is still feeding in the bushes on the way to Bridge Screen.
- Whooper Swans seen out on the marsh, occasionally visiting the scrapes.
- Late afternoon from Parkgate Marsh Harriers are seen going to roost in Neston Reedbed together with Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and a Bittern.
- Up to 10 Cattle Egrets seen leaving the roost in the early morning
- An Otter was seen feeding from Reedbed screen, Dec 3rd.
Contact Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
deeestuary@rspb.org.uk RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve, Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton, Cheshire, CH64 5SF 0151 353 2720