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Ham Wall - Marsh
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Ham Wall

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description Ham Wall Overview

Ham Wall is a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) nature reserve located in the Somerset Levels, England. Established on former peat extraction workings, the reserve features extensive reedbeds and wetland habitats created through restoration efforts. It is an important site for breeding bitterns, a species that recolonized the area after habitat improvements. The reserve also supports populations of great white egrets, marsh harriers, and large winter roosts of starlings.

help Ham Wall FAQ

What birds can be seen at Ham Wall RSPB reserve?

Ham Wall is known for its populations of bitterns, great white egrets, marsh harriers, and reed warblers. The reserve's extensive reedbeds at the Somerset Levels provide crucial habitat for these wetland species, and it is one of the best places in the UK to hear booming bitterns.

Where is Ham Wall nature reserve located?

Ham Wall is located in the Somerset Levels in southwestern England, near the town of Glastonbury. The reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and is situated on former peat extraction workings.

What is the history of Ham Wall as a nature reserve?

Ham Wall was established as an RSPB reserve on former peat extraction workings that had left the land degraded. The RSPB undertook extensive restoration, converting the area into reedbeds and wetland habitats, creating one of the most significant new wetland reserves in southwestern England.

When is the best time to visit Ham Wall?

Spring and early summer are excellent times to visit, as this is when bitterns can be heard booming from the reedbeds and many wetland birds are breeding. Winter visits can also be rewarding, with large flocks of starlings forming spectacular murmurations over the reedbeds—a phenomenon the Somerset Levels is famous for.

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