Events at Rye Meads
Discover exciting events all year at Rye Meads. Join us for one of our guided walks including the Wednesday Wander!
Wildfire risk
With wildfire risk currently extremely high, we urge visitors to take extra care by avoiding any activity that could start a fire and immediately reporting any signs of smoke or fire to 999 to help protect people and wildlife. Please note, some of our nature reserves are closed due to wildfires, please check before you travel.
Advice on wildfire preventionThu 30 July 2026 12:00 Days out
Rye Meads
HoddesdonClosed | Opens tomorrowSee opening timesWelcome to Rye Meads, a wetland reserve that's home to Common Terns, Kingfishers, Water Voles, waterfowl and so much more. Visit for a watch, a ramble, a family-friendly day out or just to enjoy being in nature.
About
This delightful wetland reserve beside the River Lee is a firm favourite with walkers, birdwatchers, families, photographers and schools thanks to its many trails and hides.
Head out on our trails around swaying reedbeds, open water and shallow pools, known as scrapes. Artificial sandbanks are a good place to spot Kingfishers, while specially built rafts are where the Common Terns choose to nest in summer. Snipe, Green Sandpipers, Shovelers, Gadwalls and Tufted Ducks take over during the winter months.
At a glance
Closed and locked outside of opening hours.
3 Blue Badge spaces Blue Badge spaces 33 yards from the visitor centre. Parking and pedestrian access is all on one level. Tarmac surfacing.
Drop off in coach bay outside the visitor centre when not in use. No height restrictions. Bike racks.
Our toilets are open during opening hours, to the rear of the visitor centre. Surface lino and tiles in the toilets.
Baby changing facilities are located in the toilets, at the rear of the visitor centre.
Check access suitability for events and activities.
Check access suitability for events and activities. Staff are trained in disability awareness.
Mobility scooter - available for hire, free of charge, bookable in advance. Manual push wheelchair for hire, free of charge, bookable in advance.
Our toilets are open during opening hours, to the rear of the visitor centre. Surface lino and tiles in the toilets.
Barbecue
Barbecue
Sorry, dogs are not permitted on the nature reserve (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 on all parts of the reserve.
Sorry, there is no cycling or scooters allowed anywhere on the reserve.
See what’s here
Plan your visit
This is a great location to spot Kingfishers
The vibrant azure and copper feathers of the Kingfisher make them one of the UK’s most colourful and instantly recognisable birds. But blink and you’ll miss them – they dart along rivers and streams at high speeds. RSPB nature reserves and our care-taking teams provide safe wetland havens for these special birds and their fishy prey.
Recent sightings at Rye Meads
Check out which species we've seen at Rye Meads this week (26 July - 2 August).
Kingfisher sightings
Kingfishers have been seen at the Kingfisher hub. They are now on their second brood.
First brood
March – First fish pass on 8 March and first report of mating on 20 March.
April – First swap over seen on 10 April. Chicks hatched on 30 April.
May – First chick fledged on 25 May with 2 juveniles seen together so we believe there were 2 fledglings. Adults started fish passing and mating straight away.
Second brood
1 June - 7 June - Sightings have been very hit and miss all week. We think they may be nesting again but we can't be sure as there hasn't been a definite sighting of them changing over.
8 June - 21 June - The sightings have remained very sporadic. They have been seen flying into the nest hole but they have also been flying off in different directions. We are hoping they're nesting but they could still be clearing out the new nest hole.
22 June - 28 June - Report of Kingfishers going into the nest hole with a fish on Tuesday 23 June and Saturday 27 June, so we think the second brood may have hatched.
28 June - 5 July - Kingfisher sightings have increased a lot with sightings every day of them taking fish in to the chicks.
6 July - 12 July - Sightings have remained very regular with sightings every day. We are expecting the chicks to fledge at some point around 17 July.
13 July - 19 July - The Kingfishers have fledged!! Three fledged on Thursday 16 July and left quite quickly as they haven't been seen since. We also think the adults may already be on a third brood as there was a swapover seen on Friday 17 July. This means that sightings have dropped again with only one or two sightings a day.
20 July - 26 July - Sightings are still low with a couple of sightings a day.
27 July - 2 August - The third brood of Kingfishers have hatched on Friday 31 July!! The male and female have been seen regularly flying into the nest hole with fish and have also been seen fishing at the Draper hide.
Other sightings
- Lots of Fox sightings on the Big Wild Sleepout along the path between Ashby and Tern.
- The Red Crested Pochard are doing well at the Gadwall hide.
- The Wasp Spiders are still at the Centre Dipping pond with around 4-6 being seen.
- 4 Green Sandpipers are being seen every day at the Draper hide.
- Snipe are still at the Draper hide.
- Common Tern are being seen almost every day from the Draper hide.
- A Cuckoo was seen at the Kingfisher hub on 27 July.
- A Cattle Egret was at the Draper hide and Gadwall hide on 28 July.
- A Great White Egret was also at the Draper hide on 28 July.
- A Common Sandpiper was at the Draper hide on 31 July.
- The juvenile Kestrels are being seen at the Kingfisher hub.
Contact Rye Meads
rye.meads@rspb.org.uk Rye Meads, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, SG12 8JS 01992 708383