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Abbie Thorne

UPDATE (Dec 2021): Travel Somerset have announced that from 4 January – 1 April the road between the reserve and Ashcott will be closed. This means that access to the reserve will only be from the Meare side. The road is narrow with limited turning places or passing spaces. Please DO NOT park on the road – be considerate of our neighbours, the need for emergency vehicle access at all times and other road users.

As you’ll remember last year, due to covid restrictions, we were forced to ask visitors to seek out alternative local starling roosts to watch this incredible seasonal spectacle. But with lockdown restrictions currently eased we are thrilled to welcome our supporters back to RSPB Ham Wall and the Avalon Marshes, to help you experience a breath-taking ‘wow’ moment this autumn and winter.

We are asking visitors to help us make this a safe and pleasurable experience for everyone, so please follow our top tips to do just that:

  • Our car park has limited spaces available for visitors – please do not be surprised if we have to turn you away due to reaching our site capacity. Please do not park on the road – be considerate of our neighbours and the need for emergency vehicle access at all times. If the car park is full or closed, then the site is at capacity - please return to visit the roost another day or choose a different roost to visit.
  • We ask that all visitors be considerate of each other and work together to ensure that everyone can view the starlings safely, maintaining social distancing at all times. Please wear a face covering if you are able to wear one. We also ask that visitors who are able to wear a face covering when using the toilets.
  • During weekends and over the Christmas period, we usually experience the highest number of visitors. Consider visiting outside of peak times such as weekdays or in the morning as the sun rises when the birds fly up spectacularly from the reedbeds. If you’d like to visit the reserve in the daytime instead, we also have some fantastic other wildlife to see such as bitterns, marsh harriers and majestic great white egrets
  • Come early to beat the crowds, arriving in the car park before 3:30pm at the latest to catch the spectacle. Please note that there may be a walk of up to 30 minutes depending on where the starlings are roosting. We recommend arriving by 2pm - there is lots of other wildlife to discover out on the reserve. The post code for the car park is BA6 9SX.
  • Call the starling hotline on 07866 554142 to find out which reserve the birds were roosting on the night before. Please note this is an automated line and we are unable to reply to messages.
  • It can be very cold out on the reserve so dress for the weather bringing plenty of warm layers, stout footwear and thick socks. Please bring a face covering with you, if you are able to wear one.
  • The walk back will be dark so bring a torch to help you get back to your car safely.
  • Parking costs £3 per car or is free for RSPB members (display membership card on your dash) in the RSPB Ham Wall car park. Payment is taken via credit or debit card.
  • Be mindful of the sensitive habitat around the reserve - please stick to the paths and bring a torch to help you find your way in the dark. 
  • Please note that dogs are only permitted on the main track and footpath running along the Glastonbury canal (Red Route) at RSPB Ham Wall and must be kept on a lead at all times. There are no dog poo bins in the Avalon Marshes so please come prepared to take your dog's waste home with you. Dogs are not permitted on Shapwick Heath NNR
  • There are no bins at any of the sites across the Avalon Marshes, so please take your rubbish home with you to avoid it harming our sensitive wildlife
  • For Ham Wall's accessibility guide please visit: https://www.accessibilityguides.org/content/rspb-ham-wall-0 

Thank you all for your continued support and if you have not already, please do consider joining or donating to help fund the work of the RSPB, so we can continue to improve our habitats and reserves for both people and wildlife at this difficult time. For the latest from RSPB Ham Wall, you can follow our Facebook and Twitter pages.

And if you are unable to see the starlings at RSPB Ham Wall this year, please visit starlingsintheuk.co.uk to find your local alternative roost. If you’re travelling from further afield, there is also a great range of our other reserves that host starling murmurations that are worthwhile visiting instead, including: