RSPB Nature Reserve of Medmerry
What's Here
Wildlife
Great Views
Cycle Friendly
Dog Friendly
Beach
Picnic Spot
Free Parking
No matter the time of year the Medmerry is a feast for all the senses, a true treasure to experience for yourself.
In Spring
Medmerry awakens to the sound of Skylarks, the landscape alights with wildflowers coming into bloom. Lapwings and Redshanks can be spotted. Swallows come in over the sea, swooping low over the pools as Avocets nest.
Summer
See Water Voles searching out fresh shoots to eat along the ditches, as dragonflies sweep overhead. Butterflies flit along grassy banks and the beach. The sound of Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers and other farmland birds fills the air.
With the onset of Autumn
Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and other wildfowl including Geese and Waders start to arrive. Large flocks of Hirundines gather preparing for their journeys south. Wheatears and Whinchats can be spotted on migration as Ospreys stop off to fish.
During winter
This is the best place on the south coast for spotting birds of prey including Short-Eared Owls and Barn Owls, while Merlins and Peregines chase Goldfinch and Linnets. Brent Geese, Golden Plovers and Lapwing flock to feed and roost.
Story Behind the Medmerry
Alongside the abundance of wildlife, the fascinating thing about this area is that it is man-made, the result of one of Europe’s largest managed realignment projects. It was designed to protect the surrounding villages and towns from flooding. The project was completed in 2013 by the Environment Agency in partnership with RSPB funded by Associated British Ports. The creation of the Medmerry is now a topic studied as part of the A Level and GCSE Geography syllabus. For information about how how two local women started the idea for the creation of the Medmerry click here.
Cycle Friendly
Please keep to the bridleways and cyclepaths, leaving footpaths clear for pedestrians. Cycling is not permitted on the flood bank itself. The Medmerry is 3.4 miles from the RSPB Visitor Centre PO20 0LF, on average a 17 minutes cycle ride.
Free Parking
To enter the Medmerry from the North entrance there is a limited free of charge carpark with 5 spaces, situated in Easton Lane. Set your Sat Nav to PO20 7JY. To enter the Medmerry from the South West, Earnley carpark also a free of charge has 15 spaces. Set your Sat Nav to PO20 7JL. Alternatively, park at the RSPB Visitor Centre carpark which is 3.4 miles from the Medmerry - a 1 hour 8 minute walk away. Set your Sat Nav to PO20 0LF.
Dog Friendly
It is a great place to run your dog but please stay on public and permissive rights of way and keep your dog under close control. For safety, dogs must be on leads around grazing livestock. Please don’t let your dog chase livestock or wildlife, or foul paths or car parks. If they are caught short, please clean up after them.
Picnic Spot
Bring a picnic on warm days – there are lots of places on the beach and the new floodbanks to enjoy it. Relax on one of the specially-created viewing mounds for far-reaching views and to watch the wildlife around you.
Beach
The beach is not suitable for bathers. The beach changes with every tide so be aware of exposed objects, areas of soft mud and cliffs. Do not enter tidal areas, as the mud and fast flowing water are dangerous. Please don’t attempt to cross the breach.
Great Views
This beautiful and varied countryside, offers fantastic opportunities to get close to nature, capture the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets and take that perfect photograph.
Toilets
There are no public toilets at the Medmerry.