Inner Marsh Farm

Not to be confused with Marsh Farm Junction or Marsh Farm.

View over the reserve.

Inner Marsh Farm (grid reference SJ304744) (now known as RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands) is a nature reserve on the Dee Estuary straddling the border between Cheshire, England and Flintshire, Wales. It is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) which bought the land in 1986. The reserve opened in 1992 and includes areas of marshland, woodland and arable fields. Three shallow, freshwater pools have been created over which a hide looks.

The reserve has a small car park at the end of an untarmacked road, signposted for Burton Point Farm, off Station Road, just west of the village of Burton. A footpath leads to a hide overlooking the pools.

Because of restrictions from the local council, the RSPB does not publicise the reserve. The reserve is open from 9am until 9pm (or dusk if sooner). There is a modest charge for non-members. The reserve is closed on Tuesdays for essential maintenance.

Birds include a variety of waders through the winter and migration seasons including Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Redshank and Ruff. Winter also brings many ducks including Pintail, Teal and Wigeon, also small numbers of Bewick's Swan and Whooper Swan. Breeding birds include Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warblers and Reed Bunting. Raptors of interest can be seen over the marsh, from the reserve or from nearby Denhall Lane; these include Short-eared Owls, Hen and Marsh Harriers, Merlin, Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons.

External links

• RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands web page
• RSPB Dee Estuary Nature Reserve Website
• The Dee Estuary Website
• A page about the reserve at the RSPB Liverpool members group's website