Sawbridgeworth Marsh nature reserve

Sawbridgeworth

Map Ref:  TL 493 158. 
Public Transport - About 800m north east of Sawbridgeworth railway station; turn left outside the station then left into Hallingbury Road. 
No dogs allowed.

Directions
To the west of the unclassified road from Sawbridgeworth to Gaston Green and Little Hallingbury.  There is no car park but there are two small lay-bys on the opposite side of the road about 200m north of the reserve entrance.  Care should be taken since the road is narrow and traffic travels at high speeds.

This nature reserve is owned jointly by Essex and Herts & Middx Wildlife Trusts.  The 22 acre marshland nature reserve lies in the valley of the River Stort and consists of ten acres of waterlogged marsh, normally under an inch or two of water for most of the year; six acres of peaty meadow sloping up from the marsh to the eastern boundary; and a low-lying willow plantation to the south.  Most of it is in Hertfordshire and a small part in Essex so it was acquired jointly by the two Trusts when the site became available in 1970. 

Designation:
Site of Special Scientific Interest

What to look for:
There are plants which were once quite common but are now found on only a few sites in the county, such as Marsh Willowherb  Marsh Valerian, Marsh Arrow-grass, Southern Marsh Orchid and Blunt-flowered Rush.

There are several open drainage ditches and two ponds rich in aquatic life.  The areas of sedge, reeds and tall fen vegetation provide a valuable nesting habitat for reed and sedge warblers.   In summer the reserve is alive with insects.    

The management regime is designed to encourage diversity of species.  Enclosures are grazed by horses and parts of the marsh are cut on an annual or biennial basis.  To prevent it from smothering smaller plants, the dead material is raked off  and either burnt or gathered into permanent stacks which provide a valuable habitat for grass snakes and invertebrates. 

Access
Accessible at all times.  It is not suitable for wheelchair access.

Did you know?
The most interesting time of the year to visit this reserve is during the spring and summer.