Dingle Marshes

Dingle Marshes
Map
TypeNature reserve
LocationDunwich, Suffolk
OS gridTM479708
Area93 hectares (230 acres)
Managed bySuffolk Wildlife Trust

Dingle Marshes is a 93-hectare (230-acre) wildlife reserve on the North Sea coast of the English county of Suffolk. The reserve is located between Dunwich and Walberswick, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) south-west of Southwold. The marshes make up part of the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve along with reserves at Walberswick and Hen Reedbeds.[1][2] They are owned jointly by the RSPB and Suffolk Wildlife Trust and are managed by these two organisations and Natural England.[2][3] The site is in the Dunwich Heaths and Marshes Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I,[4] the Minsmere-Walberswick Ramsar internationally important wetland site,[5] the Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes Special Area of Conservation,[6][7] and the Minsmere-Walberswick Special Protection Area under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.[8][9]

It is also within the Minsmere-Walberswick Heaths and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest and is a Natura 2000 site.[3] It is an internationally important site for the starlet sea anemone as well as a key site for bitterns and marsh harriers within the UK.[1] It was purchased in 1999 at a cost of £1 million, aided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £559,000.[10]

Landscape

The marshes form part of the open coastal fen landscape type within Suffolk which is predominantly open with few trees.[11] They were drained for use as cattle grazing at some point before 1587 but have reverted to fen land after mid-20th century reflooding.[11]

Habitat

Dingle Marshes looking inland towards Dunwich forest

The marshes include a mixture of coastal and freshwater wetland habitats, including brackish pools.[12] These provide breeding habitats for birds such as bitterns, marsh harriers and bearded tits as well as mammals such as European otters and water vole and over-wintering locations for species such as pied avocets, white-fronted geese, northern lapwings and redshanks.[1][3][12] The site is an internationally important habitat of the starlet sea anemone, the rarest sea anemone in Britain.[1][3] The reserve is bordered by heathland and forest on the landward side and includes a vegetated shingle bank on the seaward side. Little terns often nest along the bank.[12]

Flooding

Coastal flooding has affected the marshes in recent years, including in 2003, 2006 and 2007.[13][14] The shingle bank was breached in 2006 and 2007 leading to concerns that vulnerable freshwater habitats could be lost, including the breeding grounds of species such as bitterns.[13][14][15] Emergency flood defence works were carried out by the Environment Agency following the 2006 breach,[15] and these were extended in 2012 to provide additional flood defences for the reserve.[16]

Facilities

The reserve is accessed from the south at Dunwich beach where a car park and other facilities are maintained by East Suffolk council. A circular walk is waymarked around the marshes. The RSPB maintains a hide overlooking the marsh.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Suffolk Coast NNR, Natural England. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve Archived 14 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Direct enquiries. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Dingle Marshes, Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ^ Ratcliffe, Derek, ed. (1977). A Nature Conservation Review. Vol. 2. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0521 21403 3.
  5. ^ "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Minsmere–Walberswick" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths and Marshes". Special Areas of Conservation. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Designated Sites View: Minsmere to Walberswick Heaths & Marshes". Special Area of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. Minsmere-Walberswick" (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Designated Sites View: Minsmere-Walberswick". Special Protection Area. Natural England. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  10. ^ Lottery helps rare species, BBC news website, 10 February 1999. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  11. ^ a b Open coastal fens Archived 2 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Suffolk county council. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  12. ^ a b c d About Dingle Marshes, RSPB. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  13. ^ a b Sea breaches RSPB reserves in Suffolk Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Bird Guide, 2 November 2006. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  14. ^ a b Surge hits wildlife havens, BBC news website, 9 November 2007. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  15. ^ a b Fears for Dingle marshes Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Eastern Daily Press, 3 January 2007. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
  16. ^ Flood protection work at Minsmere and Dingle Marshes, BBC news website, 15 October 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-30.

52°17′07″N 1°37′45″E / 52.2854°N 1.62929°E / 52.2854; 1.62929

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