Days out
Dee Estuary - Burton Mere Wetlands
BurtonClosed | Opens tomorrowSee 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
⚠ Due to a period of ongoing short staffing, the visitor centre will be closed every Saturday, and the cafe will be closed every Monday and Tuesday until further notice.
The visitor centre and cafe may also be subject to other short notice changes to opening times. We would advise visitors to check the Facebook page for up-to-date information before visiting. ⚠
⚠ From October 27 to October 31, closing time for both the reserve and carpark is 5pm. ⚠
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. Closing time changes each month as follows:
January 4.30pm, February 5pm, March 6pm, April 8pm, May, June, July 9pm, August 8pm, September 7pm, October 6pm, November and December 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 car park 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. It is located next to the visitor centre.
Open daily. They are located in the accessible toilet next to our visitor centre.
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 just along the Mere Trail.
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.
See what’s here
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