Conwy RSPB reserve

The Conwy RSPB reserve sits on the east side of the Conwy estuary in Conwy County Borough, North Wales. It covers 47 hectares of grassland, scrubland, reedbeds, salt marsh and mudflats. The site was created to replace wildlife habitat lost during the building of the A55 road tunnel between 1986 and 1991. Dredging waste was used to form two large pools and several smaller ones. The reserve opened to the public in 1995 and now has a visitor centre, café and three hides. A farmers’ market takes place on the car park each month. More than 220 bird species have been recorded here, including lapwing, little ringed plover, skylark and reed warbler. Outside the breeding season large numbers of ducks and waders appear, along with water rails and a big starling roost. Rare visitors have included stilt sandpiper, Terek sandpiper, broad-billed sandpiper and alpine swift. Otters, stoats and weasels move through the reserve, and 11 dragonfly and damselfly species have been seen. Twenty-two kinds of butterfly fly over 273 recorded plant species, with reed, willow and alder planted across the site. Paths lead through the varied habitats, past the two large pools and smaller water bodies. Three hides give views over the reedbeds and mudflats where birds feed and rest. The visitor centre and café sit near the car park where the monthly farmers’ market is held. The reserve’s growing vegetation supports a wide range of wildlife throughout the year.