RSPB Nene Washes

Nene Washes is a nature reserve managed by the RSPB. The washes are a flood storage reservoir for the River Nene consisting of lowland grass fields with ditches and washland that come alive with wildflowers in the summer. The site is regularly flooded particularly throughout winter.

It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Ramsar internationally important wetland site supporting a variety of breeding waders, including black-tailed godwits, snipe, lapwings, and redshanks that can be spotted in spring displaying to attract a mate. Marsh harriers and hobbies can also be seen in spring.

Although the waders become harder to see, there is still plenty of birdlife to enjoy in the summer. Look out for yellow wagtails which breed at the reserve, barn owls and warblers near the car park, while the elusive garganey is a regular visitor too.

In autumn the marsh harrier roosts can hold more than 20 individuals. Other birds of prey arrive in the autumn such as short-eared owls and barn owls, and an osprey sometimes stops on migration to fish at Eldernell.

Depending on how extensively the reserve is flooded, thousands of wildfowl can be seen in the winter including Bewick’s swans, whooper swans, pintails, wigeons, teals, shovelers, pochards, golden plovers, lapwings, and black-tailed godwits from Iceland. Cranes also nest on the washes and in winter form a single flock of more than 30 birds. Look out too for hen harriers, short-eared owls, stonechats, and water pipits.

Frogbit, water violet, flowering rush and other uncommon plants can be found in the ditches, and there is an important population of spined loach in the drainage channels in and around the washes.

Nene Washes doesn’t have any managed nature trails but there is a footpath that runs alongside the reserve from where there are elevated views across the flood meadows. Access is along the South Barrier Bank which is accessed via a gentle slope and narrow kissing gates at the top of the bank, which may not be suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The western end of the reserve is private with no public access.

There are few facilities at Nene Washes with the nearest toilets including accessible toilets and baby changing located at Whittlesey about 4 miles away.

Dogs are welcome on the South Barrier Bank but must be kept under effective control and please note that sheep are present.