Bird PlacesHerts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust reserve · Ware, Hertfordshire
Amwell birdwatching guide
Amwell is a former gravel working in the Lee valley that has become Hertfordshire's best-known wetland, with viewpoints and hides overlooking lagoons and reedbed. Winter brings bittern and smew among large wildfowl flocks, while summer adds breeding common terns on the islands and hobbies hunting dragonflies over the water.
Key facts
- Habitat
- wetland
- Size
- Not recorded
- Entry fee (adult)
- Not published
- Entry fee (child)
- Not published
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- Not published
- Wheelchair access
- Not verified
- Car park
- No
- Toilets
- No
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- winter, summer
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| summer | Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | common | — |
| summer | Hobby (Falco subbuteo) | frequent | — |
| winter | Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) | occasional | — |
| winter | Smew (Mergellus albellus) | occasional | — |
Getting there
Ware, Hertfordshire
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
Opening hours not recorded — check the official website.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Amwell?
Winter for bittern, smew and large wildfowl flocks; midsummer for breeding common terns and hobbies hunting over the lagoons.
Nearby reserves (all organisations)
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Information last updated 25 July 2026.