Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve is a 50 acres (20.2 ha) local nature reserve.
The nature reserve is by the northern bank of the river Tees between the Tees Barrage
and the Tees Viaduct near Portrack
housing estate in Stockton-on-Tees borough
, County Durham
and is the last remaining wetland
on the lower Tees.
The site is bounded by Marston Road, a disused railway line, the Northumbrian Water's waste water treatment site, the river Tees, the Tees Barrage White Water Course, the grounds of The Talpore pub and a Tees Barrage
access road.
Ownership of the reserve is split between Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
and Northumbrian Water
but the reserve is managed by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.
The reserve in the west and north is mature marsh while there are a series of man–made ponds in the remainder.
The site is at an altitude of 10 metres (33 ft) over datum.
The loop was removed in 1830-31 by creating the Portrack Cut through the marshes, leaving an artificial oxbow lake
, shortening the river and making it more navigable.
Part of the oxbow lake of the old river bed was filled in leaving Portrack Lake but this was lost in the 1970s.
Part of this land was purchased by Northumbrian Water for a water treatment works with the proviso that some of the land would be set aside and managed as a nature reserve.
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust was established in 1979
and they own the western half of the reserve.
In 1992 Northumbria Water created new pools in their part of the reserve.
Over the years various wildlife projects on the nature reserve have been funded by bodies such as The Environment Trust
, the Heritage Lottery Fund
, Northumbrian Water
, and Stockton-on-Tees
Borough Council.
In the north-east and far west of the reserve are areas of grassland.
The reserve has a number of pathways around it and because of flooding some pathways are provided with a boardwalk
.
The level of water in the ponds also determines the type of birds present.
Birds observed to have visited, lived or bred here include blackcap
, black-tailed godwit
, bluethroat
, bullfinch
, canada goose
, chiffchaff
, common sandpiper
, common snipe
, common tern
, coot
, corncrake, dunlin
, gadwall
, goldeneye
, grasshopper warbler
, great white egret, green sandpiper
, greenshank
, grey wagtail
, jack snipe
, kingfisher
, knot
, lapwing
, lesser redpoll
, little grebe
, little ringed plover
, long-eared owl
, mallard
, moorhen
, mute swan
, osprey
, pectoral sandpiper
, penduline tit
, pochard
, redshank
, ring-billed gull
, ringed plover
, ruff
, sandpiper, scaup
, sedge warbler
, short-eared owl
, shoveller, reed warbler
, siskin
, spotted crake
, stonechat, teal
, tufted duck
, turnstone
, wheatear
, whinchat
, whitethroat
, widgeon, willow warbler
, wood sandpiper
.
Amphibian
s present on the site include the common newt
.
The reserve is noted for its large and varied butterfly population.
Insects to be found include butterflies (common blue
, dingy skipper
, grayling
) and dragonflies (broad-bodied chaser
, lesser emperor
).
Weevil
s were successfully introduced to the ponds to control the spread of azolla pond weed.
As for mammals, urban foxes have been seen in the area and the harvest mouse
was introduced to the site in a schools project along with nesting boxes but the success of the introduction is uncertain.
The plants present include alder
trees, mature hawthorn
bushes, some of them planted by local schools.
Other plants include alsike clover
, bee orchid
, cornflower
, Japanese honeysuckle, lucern
, marsh orchid
, medicago
, melilot, northern marsh-orchid
, wild carrot, wild parsnip
and in the ponds azolla pond weed, common reed, phragmites
and reedmace.
The nature reserve is by the northern bank of the river Tees between the Tees Barrage
Tees Barrage
The Tees Barrage is a barrage across the River Tees just upriver of Blue House Point in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East of England and is used to control the flow of the river, preventing flooding and the effects of tidal change....
and the Tees Viaduct near Portrack
Portrack
Portrack is a housing estate in Stockton-on-Tees. It is situated close to Billingham opposite Thornaby and just West of Middlesbrough. Portrack was the site of a large municipal incinerator which took in and burned waste from all over Teesside. The incinerator was closed in 1996 and demolished in...
housing estate in Stockton-on-Tees borough
Stockton-on-Tees (borough)
Stockton-on-Tees is a unitary authority area and borough in the Tees Valley area of north east England, with a population in 2001 of 178,408, rising to 185,880 in 2005 estimates....
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and is the last remaining wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
on the lower Tees.
The site is bounded by Marston Road, a disused railway line, the Northumbrian Water's waste water treatment site, the river Tees, the Tees Barrage White Water Course, the grounds of The Talpore pub and a Tees Barrage
Tees Barrage
The Tees Barrage is a barrage across the River Tees just upriver of Blue House Point in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in North East of England and is used to control the flow of the river, preventing flooding and the effects of tidal change....
access road.
Ownership of the reserve is split between Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the Tees Valley area of England. Its area of operation corresponds to the four unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland, covering parts of the ceremonial counties of County Durham and...
and Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water Group plc is the holding company for several companies in the water supply, sewerage and waste water industries. NWG's largest subsidiary is Northumbrian Water Limited , which is one of ten companies in England and Wales that are regulated water supply and sewerage utilities...
but the reserve is managed by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.
The reserve in the west and north is mature marsh while there are a series of man–made ponds in the remainder.
The site is at an altitude of 10 metres (33 ft) over datum.
History
The land for the reserve is inside a former meander of the old river Tees.The loop was removed in 1830-31 by creating the Portrack Cut through the marshes, leaving an artificial oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
, shortening the river and making it more navigable.
Part of the oxbow lake of the old river bed was filled in leaving Portrack Lake but this was lost in the 1970s.
Part of this land was purchased by Northumbrian Water for a water treatment works with the proviso that some of the land would be set aside and managed as a nature reserve.
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust was established in 1979
and they own the western half of the reserve.
In 1992 Northumbria Water created new pools in their part of the reserve.
Over the years various wildlife projects on the nature reserve have been funded by bodies such as The Environment Trust
The Environment Trust
The Environment Trust is a registered charity and development trust based in Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. Its aim is to achieve sustainable development by improving the social, economic and physical environment for community benefit....
, the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
, Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water Group plc is the holding company for several companies in the water supply, sewerage and waste water industries. NWG's largest subsidiary is Northumbrian Water Limited , which is one of ten companies in England and Wales that are regulated water supply and sewerage utilities...
, and Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
Borough Council.
Landmarks
The reserve has a number of ponds - in the north is Mallard Water, in the east Teal Lake and by the river Tees along the southern boundary, Willow Pond, and Darter Ponds with its dipping platform, and in the western half, West Water with its islands - some ponds are relatively shallow and some deep.In the north-east and far west of the reserve are areas of grassland.
The reserve has a number of pathways around it and because of flooding some pathways are provided with a boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
.
The level of water in the ponds also determines the type of birds present.
Flora and fauna
Some 153 bird species have been recorded at this reserve with 90-100 recorded annually.Birds observed to have visited, lived or bred here include blackcap
Blackcap
The Blackcap is a common and widespread sylviid warbler which breeds throughout temperate Europe, western Asia and northwestern Africa, and winters from northwestern Europe south to tropical Africa...
, black-tailed godwit
Black-tailed Godwit
The Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa, is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. It is a member of the Limosa genus, the godwits...
, bluethroat
Bluethroat
The Bluethroat is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
, bullfinch
Bullfinch
* A Bullfinch is one of two groups of passerine birdsBullfinch can also refer to:* Bullfinch , an obstacle seen on the cross-country course in the sport of eventing* USS Bullfinch, the name of two US Navy ships...
, canada goose
Canada Goose
The Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
, chiffchaff
Chiffchaff
The Common Chiffchaff, or simply the Chiffchaff, is a common and widespread leaf-warbler which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia....
, common sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
The Common Sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper , make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize...
, common snipe
Common Snipe
The Common Snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia...
, common tern
Common Tern
The Common Tern is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. This bird has a circumpolar distribution, breeding in temperate and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and east and central North America. It is strongly migratory, wintering in coastal tropical and subtropical regions. It is sometimes...
, coot
Coot
Coots are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Fulica. Coots have predominantly black plumage, and, unlike many of the rails, they are usually easy to see, often swimming in open water...
, corncrake, dunlin
Dunlin
The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East...
, gadwall
Gadwall
The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
, goldeneye
GoldenEye
GoldenEye is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and is the first film in the series not to take story elements from the works of novelist Ian Fleming...
, grasshopper warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
The Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevia, is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and Asia. It is migratory, wintering from northwest Africa to India....
, great white egret, green sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
The Green Sandpiper is a small wader of the Old World. It represents an ancient lineage of the genus Tringa; its only close living relative is the Solitary Sandpiper . They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern...
, greenshank
Greenshank
The Common Greenshank is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. Its closest relative is the Greater Yellowlegs, together with which and the Spotted Redshank it forms a close-knit group...
, grey wagtail
Grey Wagtail
The Grey Wagtail is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat...
, jack snipe
Jack Snipe
The Jack Snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus Lymnocryptes...
, kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
, knot
Knot
A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...
, lapwing
Lapwing
Vanellinae are any of various crested plovers, family Charadriidae, noted for its slow, irregular wingbeat in flight and a shrill, wailing cry. Its length is 10-16 inches. They are a subfamily of medium-sized wading birds which also includes the plovers and dotterels. The Vanellinae are...
, lesser redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
The Lesser Redpoll is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Carduelis in the finch family, Fringillidae. It is the smallest, brownest and most streaked of the redpolls...
, little grebe
Little Grebe
The Little Grebe , also known as Dabchick, member of the grebe family of water birds. At 23 to 29 cm in length it is the smallest European member of its family. It is commonly found in open bodies of water across most of its range.-Description:The Little Grebe is a small water bird with a pointed...
, little ringed plover
Little Ringed Plover
The Little Ringed Plover is a small plover. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill...
, long-eared owl
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
, mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
, moorhen
Moorhen
Moorhens, sometimes called marsh hens, are medium-sized water birds that are members of the rail family Rallidae. They constitute the genus Gallinula....
, mute swan
Mute Swan
The Mute Swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less...
, osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
, pectoral sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small wader. It is sometimes separated with the "stint" sandpipers in Erolia. This may or may not represent a good monophyletic group, depending on the placement of the phylogenetically enigmatic Curlew Sandpiper , the type species of Erolia...
, penduline tit
Penduline tit
The penduline tits are a family of small passerine birds, related to the true tits. All but the Verdin and Fire-capped Tit make elaborate bag nests hanging from trees , usually over water; inclusion of the Fire-capped Tit in this family is disputed by some authorities.-Characteristics:Penduline...
, pochard
Pochard
The Common Pochard, Aythya ferina, is a medium-sized diving duck.The adult male has a long dark bill with a grey band, a red head and neck, a black breast, red eyes and a grey back. The adult female has a brown head and body and a narrower grey bill band. The triangular head shape is distinctive...
, redshank
Redshank
Redshank can refer to:*Two species of birds:** Common Redshank Tringa totanus** Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus*Three species of plant:** Redshank Persicaria maculosa, formerly Polygonum persicaria** Redshank Ceratodon purpureus...
, ring-billed gull
Ring-billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull is a medium-sized gull.Adults are length and with a wingspan. The head, neck and underparts are white; the relatively short bill is yellow with a dark ring; the back and wings are silver gray; and the legs are yellow. The eyes are yellow with red rims...
, ringed plover
Ringed Plover
The Common Ringed Plover or Ringed Plover is a small plover.Adults are 17-19.5 cm in length with a 35–41 cm wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes...
, ruff
Ruff
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird that breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia...
, sandpiper, scaup
Scaup
Scaup may refer to:* Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, a political party in Scotland* One of three species of diving duck:** Greater Scaup or just Scaup, Aythya marila** Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis...
, sedge warbler
Sedge Warbler
The Sedge Warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is a medium-sized warbler with a brown, streaked back and wings and a distinct pale supercilium. Sedge Warblers are migratory, crossing the Sahara to get from their European and Asian breeding grounds to spend winter in Africa...
, short-eared owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
, shoveller, reed warbler
Reed Warbler
The Eurasian Reed Warbler, or just Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds across Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa....
, siskin
Siskin
-Birds:The name siskin when referring to a bird is derived from an adaptation of the German dialect words sisschen, zeischen, which are diminuative forms of Middle High German and Middle Low German words, which are themselves apparently of Slavic origin...
, spotted crake
Spotted Crake
The Spotted Crake is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.Their breeding habitat is marshes and sedge beds across temperate Europe into western Asia. They nest in a dry location in marsh vegetation, laying 6-15 eggs...
, stonechat, teal
Teal
Teal may mean:* Teal , a medium greenish-blue color* Various ducks:** Baikal Teal, Anas formosa** Black Teal, Aythya novaeseelandiae** Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors** Brown Teal, Anas aucklandica** Campbell Teal Anas nesiotis...
, tufted duck
Tufted Duck
The Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula, is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds.- Description :The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name.The adult female is brown with paler...
, turnstone
Turnstone
Turnstones are the bird species in the genus Arenaria in the family Scolopacidae. They are closely related to calidrid sandpipers and might be considered members of the tribe Calidriini....
, wheatear
Wheatear
The wheatears are passerine birds of the genus Oenanthe. They were formerly considered to be members of the thrush family Turdidae, but are now more commonly placed in the flycatcher family Muscicapidae...
, whinchat
Whinchat
The Whinchat Saxicola rubetra is a small migratory passerine bird breeding in Europe and western Asia and wintering in Africa.Its scientific name means "small rock-dweller", in reference to its habitat...
, whitethroat
Whitethroat
The Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis, is a common and widespread typical warbler which breeds throughout Europe and across much of temperate western Asia. This small passerine bird is strongly migratory, and winters in tropical Africa, Arabia and Pakistan.This is one of several Sylvia species...
, widgeon, willow warbler
Willow Warbler
The Willow Warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia...
, wood sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...
.
Amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s present on the site include the common newt
Newt
A newt is an aquatic amphibian of the family Salamandridae, although not all aquatic salamanders are considered newts. Newts are classified in the subfamily Pleurodelinae of the family Salamandridae, and are found in North America, Europe and Asia...
.
The reserve is noted for its large and varied butterfly population.
Insects to be found include butterflies (common blue
Common Blue
The Common Blue is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, widespread over much of the Palaearctic. Recently, Polyommatus icarus was discovered in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada by Ara Sarafian, an amateur entomologist who observed the butterfly from 2005 to 2008...
, dingy skipper
Dingy Skipper
The Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It ranges from Europe across Asia Minor and Central Asia to the Amur region.Erynnis tages favours open grassy habitats up to 2,000 metres above sea level...
, grayling
Grayling
-Fish:*Grayling , Thymallus thymallus*Grayling , generically, any fish of the genus Thymallus in the family Salmonidae*Australian grayling , a fish in the family Retropinnidae...
) and dragonflies (broad-bodied chaser
Broad-bodied Chaser
The Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa, is one of the most common dragonflies in Europe and central Asia. It is very distinctive with a very broad flattened abdomen, four wing patches and, in the male, the abdomen becomes pruinose blue....
, lesser emperor
Anax parthenope
Anax parthenope, the Lesser Emperor is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae. It is found in Southern Europe, north Africa and Asia.-Identification:...
).
Weevil
Weevil
A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than , and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae...
s were successfully introduced to the ponds to control the spread of azolla pond weed.
As for mammals, urban foxes have been seen in the area and the harvest mouse
Harvest mouse
Harvest mouse may refer to members of two groups of rodents:*Micromys from Eurasia, particularly the Eurasian harvest mouse *Reithrodontomys from the Americas...
was introduced to the site in a schools project along with nesting boxes but the success of the introduction is uncertain.
The plants present include alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
trees, mature hawthorn
Hawthorn
- Plants :* Crataegus , a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae* Rhaphiolepis , a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosaceae...
bushes, some of them planted by local schools.
Other plants include alsike clover
Trifolium hybridum
Trifolium hybridum, alsike clover, is a plant species of the genus Trifolium in the pea family Fabaceae. The stalked, pale pink or whitish flower head grows from the leaf axils, and the trifoliate leaves are unmarked. The plant is tall, and is found in fields and on roadsides – it is also...
, bee orchid
Bee Orchid
The Bee Orchid is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae.-Etymology:The name "Ophrys" derives from the Greek word "ophrys", meaning "eyebrow", while the Latin name of the species "apifera" refers to the bee-shaped lip.-Description: The Bee Orchid grows to a height of ....
, cornflower
Cornflower
Centaurea cyanus is a small annual flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe. "Cornflower" is also erroneously used for chicory, and more correctly for a few other Centaurea species; to distinguish C...
, Japanese honeysuckle, lucern
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
, marsh orchid
Epipactis palustris
Epipactis palustris is an orchid. An example occurrence of this species is in the Sarmatic mixed forests ecoregion. -References:* C.Michael Hogan. 2011....
, medicago
Medicago
Medicago is a genus of flowering plants, commonly known as medick or burclover. The name is based on Latin medica 'alfalfa, lucerne,' from 'Median .'...
, melilot, northern marsh-orchid
Dactylorhiza purpurella
The Northern Marsh Orchid is an orchid....
, wild carrot, wild parsnip
Wild parsnip
Wild parsnip can refer to the following plants:*Wild parsnip *Garden Angelica *Giant hogweed , which is extremely toxic...
and in the ponds azolla pond weed, common reed, phragmites
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
and reedmace.
See also
Other local Tees Valley Wildlife nature reserves- Portrack Meadows Wildlife Reserve
- Maze Park Nature ReserveMaze Park Nature ReserveMaze Park is a urban nature reserve in Middlesbrough, England on the south bank of the Tees on former railway marshalling yards.It was created by the Teesside Development Corporation and is owned and run by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust....
.
External links
- Site map: Teesmouth Bird Club
- Images: Flickr.