Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve

Fobbin Marsh Marc Outten
Yellowhammer Dave McGough

Dave McGough

Luke Massey 2020 Vision

Wheatear - Luke Massey/2020 Vision

Fobbin Marsh Marc O
Wander through one of the few remaining Thameside grazing marshes; full of flowering plants and visiting migrant birds

Location

Off Marsh Lane
Fobbing
Essex

OS Map Reference

TQ 716 845
A static map of Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
76 hectares
P

Parking information

Parking is along the road in the town of Fobbing

Grazing animals

Sheep grazing in March and from August-November.
Cows grazing from April-November

Walking trails

Public footpath runs through it.

Access

Footpath down from the town of Fobbing

Dogs

Dogs permitted

Dogs allowed on the public footpath only and kept on a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Accessible at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

A popular nature reserve for visiting passage migrants, look out for the wheatear and whinchat amongst the grazing meadows during spring and autumn and the 'jangling keys' call of the increasingly scarce corn bunting in summer.

Throughout the year look for the beautiful small yellow bird, the yellowhammer, sitting up in the trees. During summer you will be greeted with colourful displays of vetches and tares whilst many dragonflies and damselflies can be seen foraging along the ditches across the reserve. Many of the flowering plants are typical of Thameside marshes, including hairy buttercup, knotted hedge parsley, sea barley and slender hare’s-ear.

In winter, the marsh is used by wintering raptors, wildfowl and waders, such as wigeon, teal, marsh harrier. and peregrine falcon.

Environmental designation

Local Wildlife Site (LWS)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)