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Doxey Marshes is a
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
located within two miles of Stafford town centre, and is managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Designated as a
Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain, or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle ...
for its wet
grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other Herbaceo ...
habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...
and its breeding wading birds and wildfowl, it is particularly noted for its populations of breeding snipe. The habitat is one of the most threatened nationally, along with related wildlife such as snipe, lapwing, little ringed plover,
otter Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among ...
and water shrew.


Geographical features and biodiversity

Doxey Marshes lies within the floodplain of the River Sow and periodically it breaches its banks and subjects the marshes to flooding. Wading birds love the shallow pools and muddy edges this flooding leaves behind as a source of food. In the autumn and spring during the migration period, Doxey can attract a variety of rare birds. Rarities recorded in recent years include river warbler, marsh warbler, purple heron, cattle egret, Eurasian spoonbill, European bee-eater and bluethroat.


Management

Doxey Marshes Nature Reserve is managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Grazing throughout the summer is a very traditional way of managing wet grassland and keeps the grass short enough for ground nesting birds to keep a look out for predators. Cattle numbers are monitored to avoid trampling of eggs and nests early on in the breeding season. Large areas of rush that are unpalatable to cattle are cut by hand in sections to allow open feeding areas and some cover. Willow trees are pollarded to help them live longer. This is an ancient way of managing willow trees, the branches are cut off above cattle head height and to discourage crows and magpies from perching in the branches and preying on chicks and eggs. The musk beetle lives on the rotting wood inside these old willow pollards, noctule bats live in the holes and cracks in the trunk and otters sometimes lie up in the thick bush of pollarded branches to hide away from people in the daytime. Fishing permits are available for Doxey Marshes Nature Reserve from the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.


Gallery

Image:Doxey Marshes July 2005.jpg Image:1170July 2005 105.jpg Image:1142July_2005_077.jpg Image:1154July 2005 089.jpg File:Doxey Marshes 2004.jpg File:Doxey Marshes.jpg


References


External links


Staffordshire Wildlife Trust - Doxey Marshes
Marshes of England Nature reserves in Staffordshire Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire Stafford {{Staffordshire-geo-stub