Marbury Reedbed
Part of this reserve was declared a nature reserve in 1934 in memory of the Cheshire naturalist T.A. Coward. It comprises oak/birch woodland, willow and alder carr, reedbed and part of Budworth Mere.
Location
The reserve lies at the north west end of Budworth Mere, close to Marbury Country Park, 2km north of Northwich (O.S. Grid Ref.: SJ651768). It occupies 6 hectares (15 acres).
Access
Access to the reserve is by way of a stile in the western boundary of the woodland which can be reached by the public footpath crossing two fields starting at the gate opposite Home Farm, Comberbach (SJ 647768). Cars should either be left at the side of the road, or in the car park at Marbury Country Park (SJ 651763).
Access to the woodland area of the reserve is open to Trust members at all times. Access to the reedbed, open water area, and woodland buffer zone requires a permit obtainable from Cheshire Wildlife Trust. A good view of the reed beds can be obtained from the public bird hide in Marbury Country Park.
Status
The reserve was bought by public subscription in 1934 (together with Cotterill Clough) as a memorial to the Cheshire Naturalist T.A. Coward (1867-1933). It is leased from the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
An additional area of reedbed and water is also leased from ICI Ltd. The reserve covers 15 acres (6ha) and forms part of the Budworth Mere SSSI.
Topography
The reserve demonstrates the various stages of hydrosere succession causing the in-filling of a mere basin. Budworth Mere was either formed by natural salt subsidence, or by glacial morainic action.
Flora
Working from the mere edge inland you will pass through a series of habitats representing various hydrosere development stages. The open water contains a rich selection of macrophytes associated with water lillies Nymphaea alba. The reed beds are composed mostly of Phragmites australis though also with some sedge species. On the margins, flowering rush Butomus umbellatus can be found. Within the reed bed marsh cinquefoil Potentilla palustris and other poor-fen species can be seen.
As you move further inland the reedbeds become invaded by trees, mostly white willow Salix alba and alder Alnus glutinosa.
As the peat level builds up, birch, oak, hawthorn and hazel can colonise. In the vicinty of the reserve entrance, there are fairly substantial specimens of both oak and birch trees.
In many places the ground flora is dominated by bracken and brambles. Recent management work has attempted to reduce the spread of bracken, rhododendron and sycamore. Tree planting using British native trees has been undertaken.
Fauna
The main area of ornithological interest is centred on the reed bed. Reed and sedge warblers breed here, together with great crested grebe, dabchick, coot and moorhen.
The open water area is used by many species of wildfowl, this area is best viewed from the public hide in Marbury Country Park.
The mere and woodland are used by more than 7 species of bat for foraging and roosting. It is the site of the first record for a Nathusius pipistrelle in Cheshire. Noctules, Daubentons, Whiskered bats and the more common species of pipistrelle (Common and Soprano) can be seen feeding over the mere throughout the summer months.
|
