Mouse over links for pictures; click for detail page.
A wetland reserve beside the River Lee with reedbeds, wet meadows, open water and artificial sandbanks, managed by RSPB in association with the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.
In summer, common terns nest on special rafts and little grebes and tufted ducks on the lakes, and you are also likely to hear the explosive song of the Cetti's warbler, Britain's only resident warbler. Nesting kingfishers are attracted to the sandbanks and there are also plenty of butterflies and dragonflies. In winter, snipe, green sandpipers, shovelers and gadwalls visit the scrapes and lakes, and bitterns the reedbeds.
There are 10 bird hides and a network of nature trails.
Visiting
Off Rye Road, north-east of Hoddesdon. Rye Road leaves the B181 (Stanstead Abbotts–Roydon) just south of where it crosses the A414. This is a toll road (50p) and the reserve entrance is 150m past the toll station.
Rye House station is on the Hertford East spur of the Liverpool St–Cambridge Line: change at Broxbourne. Turn right out of the station and follow a footpath on the left side of the road for 300m to the entrance.
Open daily except Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 10 am–5 pm (or dusk if earlier). The visitor and education centre serves hot drinks and overlooks a bird feeding area. Explorer Backpacks are available on free loan.
Late spring or early summer for nesting birds; winter for visiting birds such as bitterns.
The visitor centre is fully accessible. Paths to the hides, which have adapted viewing places, are fully accessible also.
Phone 01992 708383 or email rye.meads2@rspb.org.uk.
.jpg)