A stunning nature reserve in Somerset’s Levels near Glastonbury with scenic trails, birdwatching hides, and breathtaking views.
Plant it, and they will come. In the mid-1990s, the RSPB took ownership of a peat-extraction site in Somerset, then set about reimagining it as a wetland wonderland.
The land was sculpted with machines, then flooded to create open water, before thousands of reeds were planted by hand.
Where is Ham Wall?
RSPB Ham Wall is a nature reserve located in the Somerset Levels, near the village of Meare and close to Glastonbury in Somerset, England.
How many starlings at Ham Wall?
Tens of thousands of starlings roost in the reed-beds at Ham Wall. According to the RSPB’s website, in some years these numbers have even risen to an estimated one million birds.
For more information about the starlings at Ham Wall, read our days out guide and the Countryfile team’s day trip to try and catch the mesmerising starling murmurations on the Somerset Levels.
What other birds can I see at Ham Wall?
Ham Wall boasts double the number of reedbed-breeding bitterns than existed in the entire UK in 1997.
Find out more about bitterns breeding in the Somerset Levels, in our podcast, The Plodcast
When to visit Ham Wall
The bittern is most readily seen in spring, when females use regular flightpaths as they provision hungry chicks.
Spring is also the time to gawp at hobbies – aeronaut falcons that pluck flying insects from mid-air, as seen in a BBC Wild Isles sequence filmed at Ham Wall. Some of those unfortunate invertebrates are four-spotted chaser dragonflies, thousands of which roost here.
In summer, Ham Wall also treats you to Britain’s largest population of great egrets.
And dont’ forget, in late autumn and winter starlings congregate to put on their unforgettable display as they prepare to roost. Backlit by the sunset, the murmuration shapeshifts incessantly: no two minutes are the same.
What to see and do at Ham Wall
The wetland is teeming with wildlife and lucky visitors may spot otters, water voles or the vibrant blur of a passing kingfisher.
The landscape is beautiful too: explore the many paths through the marshes and take in the sweeping views of Glastonbury Tor.
Visitor information for RSPB Ham Wall
The reserve features trails, viewing platforms, and hides that provide excellent opportunities for wildlife observation.
Visit other wetlands and reserves in Somerset
If you’re looking for more bird watching haven’s to visit in the county, check out our guides to WWT Steart Marshes and Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve, and find out more about the Somerset Levels.