Middle Amble Marsh

Jointly owned with Cornwall Birdwatching Society, Middle Amble Marsh has a mosaic of fen and wet grassland which benefits a wealth of wildlife that uses the site.

Location

Chapel Amble, near Wadebridge.

Park in the Chapel Amble village car park, and walk towards the village. Take a left hand turn just past the Post Office and carry on for approximately 420m until you see the entrance to reserve on the left hand side.

PL27 6EW

OS Map Reference

SW997753

Know before you go

Size

7 hectares

Parking information

Park in the Chapel Amble village car park. OS Grid Ref SW997753. What3words: trembles.popping.backpacks

Grazing animals

The site is grazed with cattle from May – September.

Access

A track from the entrance leads to a bird hide where you can view the reserve. Access to the hide is via a key secured in a key safe. Text Stuart Mathieson (07970780185) or Peter Kent (07866430086) for the safe code.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open all year

Best time to visit

April – July for summer migrants, October – February for wintering wildfowl and waders.

About the reserve

Middle Amble Marsh is co-owned with Cornwall Birdwatching and Preservation Society and is adjacent Walmsley Sanctuary. It was acquired in 2012 and significant wetland enhancement works were undertaken in 2016 at the reserve.

Historic channels were re-instated, scrapes were created, and water levels raised within the site, using a network of pipes and valves. Since these works were completed the grazing marsh habitat that dominated the site has transitioned towards a wetter mosaic of fen and wet grassland, benefiting the wealth of wildlife that uses the site.

In the spring and summer the site is alive to the sound of cetti’s warblers, reed warblers and sedge warblers, whilst broad-bodied chasers and common blue damselflies skirt along ditches.

Through the autumn and winter months the site is a haven for wildfowl, including teal and wigeon.

At any time of the year there is a good chance of seeing barn owls traversing the site as dusk approaches.