Southfield Farm Marsh
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A spring-fed marsh within a mosaic of grassland and scrub beside the River Ise |
The River Ise was diverted when the A14 was built, and the former meander now forms a second channel. An old oxbow remains, dominated by meadowsweet and wild angelica.
The main wetland area east of the ditch contains the majority of marshland plants such as lesser pond-sedge, slender tufted-sedge, and water forget-me-not. Reed bunting and sedge warbler can be found among the tall vegetation.
The grassland supports flowers such as purple-loosestrife and slender tufted-sedge. Collapsed willow pollards line the old course of the river, providing habitats for a variety of insects and birds. Their roots and hollow trunks are ideal resting places for otters. The only sign of these elusive mammals that most visitors will see is their spraints on the culverts. The mosaic of habitats supports a variety of insects including soldierflies, craneflies and hoverflies. In the summer, many species of dragonfly and damselfly can be found along the river.
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Insects: Soldierflies, hoverflies Reptiles: Grass snake Birds: Reed bunting, sedge warbler Mammals: Otter |
Plants: Meadowsweet, wild angelica, lesser pond-sedge, purple-loosestrife Insects: Dragonflies, damselflies, soldierflies, hoverflies Reptiles: Grass snake Birds: Reed bunting, sedge warbler |
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