Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve lies in the valley of the Great Stour river
, between Westbere and Grove Ferry, in the county of Kent
, and forms part of the extensive Stodmarsh SSSI. area that includes the adjacent Westbere Marshes.
The reserve consists of a number of different habitats that are important for wildlife:
- A large area of open water at Stodmarsh
- Flooded Gravel pits at Westbere
- Extensive reedbeds
- Alder woodland and carr
- Water meadows and rough grazing at Grove Ferry
Stodmarsh is designated as one of only 35 "Spotlight Reserves" in England by Natural England
in the list of National Nature Reserves in England
. This is not strictly speaking a "natural" habitat - the area around Grove Ferry has been restored to wetland habitat by English Nature (now Natural England) and the areas of open water came about as a result of the flooding of areas used for gravel extraction or undermined by mining subsidence.
The Reserve may be visited either from Stodmarsh
village (grid ref TR220606) on the South-west side (where there is a carpark), or from Grove Ferry in the North-east. The Stour Valley Walk
passes through the reserve, which may be visited at any time.
The Stodmarsh NNR and the area around Grove Ferry have become famous for attracting rare and endangered bird species. A species list can be found on the website of the Kent Ornithological Society.
The Stodmarsh NNR now forms a central and ecologically important feature in the Kentish Stour Countryside Project and is an important site for the protection and encouragement of critically endangered aquatic mammal species such as the Otter
and the Water Vole.
River Stour, Kent
The River Stour is the river in Kent, England that flows into the English Channel at Pegwell Bay. Above Plucks Gutter, where the Little Stour joins it, the river is normally known as the Great Stour. The upper section of the river, above its confluence with the East Stour at Ashford is sometimes...
, between Westbere and Grove Ferry, in the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and forms part of the extensive Stodmarsh SSSI. area that includes the adjacent Westbere Marshes.
The reserve consists of a number of different habitats that are important for wildlife:
- A large area of open water at Stodmarsh
- Flooded Gravel pits at Westbere
- Extensive reedbeds
- Alder woodland and carr
- Water meadows and rough grazing at Grove Ferry
Stodmarsh is designated as one of only 35 "Spotlight Reserves" in England by Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
in the list of National Nature Reserves in England
National Nature Reserves in England
National Nature Reserves in England are managed by Natural England and are key places for wildlife and natural features in England. They were established to protect the most important areas of habitat and of geological formations...
. This is not strictly speaking a "natural" habitat - the area around Grove Ferry has been restored to wetland habitat by English Nature (now Natural England) and the areas of open water came about as a result of the flooding of areas used for gravel extraction or undermined by mining subsidence.
The Reserve may be visited either from Stodmarsh
Stodmarsh
Stodmarsh is a small village 5 miles to the east of Canterbury in east Kent, England, overlooking the valley of the River Stour.Stodmarsh is now part of the parish of Wickhambreaux...
village (grid ref TR220606) on the South-west side (where there is a carpark), or from Grove Ferry in the North-east. The Stour Valley Walk
Stour Valley Walk
The Stour Valley Walk is a recreational walking route that follows the River Stour, through the Low Weald and Kent Downs, from its source at Lenham to its estuary at Pegwell Bay....
passes through the reserve, which may be visited at any time.
The Stodmarsh NNR and the area around Grove Ferry have become famous for attracting rare and endangered bird species. A species list can be found on the website of the Kent Ornithological Society.
The Stodmarsh NNR now forms a central and ecologically important feature in the Kentish Stour Countryside Project and is an important site for the protection and encouragement of critically endangered aquatic mammal species such as the Otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
and the Water Vole.