Go Wild on the Blackwater Estuary

Osea Meadows is situated beside the internationally renowned Blackwater Estuary, far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Ensure you make time to see and hear the wildlife around you.

What is the Blackwater Estuary?

The Blackwater Estuary forms over 5,500 hectares of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has an international designation as a RAMSAR (Convention on Wetlands) site thanks to the wildlife it sustains.

Walk along the network of footpaths that are accessed from our site and you’ll find an amazing variety of habitats, such as mudflats, saltmarsh, coastal grazing, lagoons, and of course the estuary itself, all of which support a wide variety of fauna and flora.

The daily action of the tide exposes and enriches the mudflats which means they are a haven for waders, wildfowl and birdwatches. Depending on the time of the year you can expect to see Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Brent Geese, as well as waders such as Avocet, Ruff, Golden Plovers and Common Redshanks. If you keep your eyes peeled in the sky you can also catch the majestic Hen Harrier or the equally impressive Marsh Harrier. Find out more about the local birdlife around us here.

Wander to the river’s edge, sit and relax you may well find some very rare specimens, including Water Beetle and Damselfly and plants such as Sea Lavender, Golden Samphire and Sea Aster. Whilst you are sitting back at one with nature, your senses will appreciate the natural soundscape of birdsong, the buzz of the bees and the gentle lapping of the tide.

The Blackwater Estuary is a wonderful spot to indulge or rekindle your love of nature. It’s also a great place to develop a lifelong love of nature. Take your children on a bug hunt, try a bird spotting expedition or maybe go pond dipping or fishing? Wander around our grounds and see if you can spot our bird boxes specially designed for buzzards and owls. We have planted almost 2km of native hedgerows to offer a safe habitat for our native species. If you’re staying in our tree house you’ll literally have a bird’s eye view over the area so don’t forget your binoculars! To find out what you need for a bug hunt – click here.

To discover more about short breaks at Osea Meadows, visit www.osealeisure.com