The Rushes is designed to reflect Martin Mere’s focus on the environment and natural play. It seeks to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities in a social, safe and clean context. Features include:
- Mini marshlands – Toddler play space
- The wetlands – water play space with dams, bridges and channels to explore
- Fly like a bird across a cableway
- Climb the giant treehouse and slide down the tunnel
- The reed bed – giant timber sculptures with nets and ropes for climbing, jumping, sliding and clambering on
- The sand flats – sand play area with playful grassy mounds and smooth boulders
Trip Advisor - 4 June 2012
"Spent a wonderful day there on Friday. We thoroughly enjoyed strolling around and feeding the ducks etc and having a great laugh too at watching their antics!! Lots of new baby birds around too and we particularly enjoyed the shelducks with their tiny babies and couldn't believe how fast they could travel underwater at such a tender young age? The afternoon was finished off perfectly when the new park opened. It's truly amazing and a fantastic feature for Martin Mere. There is nothing to compare to it for miles around and was very friendly and felt very safe too. Tons to keep the kids occupied from the younger end to..... well, wouldn't have minded a go myself! One of the best days out and superb value for money. Congratulations on a wonderful day.... hope to have many more there soon. The yearly membership is fantastic value for money."
Den building
Den building is a fantastic, adventurous activity where families and individuals work together to create dens out of conifer and branches.
It is a self led activity that you can simply have a go at, located among the trees by the canoe safari.
To create a really natural feel to your den you can utilise all of the trees and shrubs and be as creative as possible. Den building is a free activity at the centre.
Canoe safari play area
There is a brand new woodland play area by the canoe safari for you to climb, balance and jump onto wooden structures. The play area overlooks the jetty to enjoy watching people move in and out of the canoes and there are plenty of picnic benches to allow parents to sit in comfort viewing the bird feeders and enjoy a cup of tea or an ice-cream from the kiosk. There are baby swings at this play area.
Canoe safari
Take out a canoe for up to an hour to explore the channels and see what wildlife you can find. There are no age or height restrictions on this attractions - you simply ahve to fit comfortably into a life jacket. There is an additional charge of £5 per canoe and they can fit 3 people. There must be a person over the age of 18 in each canoe.
Indoor play for young children
Within the Martin Mere visitor centre there is a free room for families that has lots of free activities for children including colouring sheets, jigsaws and soft toys. You can also utilise this room for picnics.
Guided boat tours
Take a peaceful tour of our wetlands via a guided boat, learning all about Martin Mere, watching wildlife, spotting dragonflies, listening for warblers and admiring the wild flowers whilst enjoying the peace and tranquiity.
The boat tours cost £2 per seat for the 40 minute guided tour. The boats seat 8 people and can also accommodate 2 wheelchairs.
Please ask the information desk on arrival for details of boat tour times.
The boat tours are located in the area by the canoe safari and you should go to that area and speak to the designated member of staff to confirm your place on the tour.
In addition
Hand feed birds from all over the world
See the brightly coloured flamingos and their chicks
Enjoy the otter feeds at 11.30am and 2.30pm to meet Ned and Thai and their 3 young girls: Belle, Flick & Penny
Toddler Thursdays (term time only)
Entertain the little ones by coming along to our story time, every Thursday at 10.30am and 1.30pm in the fun family room. There are also toddler activities and games at 11.15am and 2.15pm.
Special offer: Every Thursday during term time, if you buy a hot meal you can get a child hot meal for free in the Mere Side Cafe.
Become a member
Under 4s can come to Martin Mere for free, which means that for just £3.08 a month an adult and a toddler can visit all year for free to enjoy all the activities we have to offer (£4.66 for a joint adult membership).
For a family membership of 2 adults and up to 6 children, the cost is just £5.50 per month to visit for free all year.
If you are a childminder, please call the centre to hear the membership options available to you on 01704 895181.
