Grazing marsh
Grazing marshes are grasslands found in low-lying coastal areas or within the flood plains of rivers that are periodically inundated with water. They usually have high water levels, which are maintained by ditches containing brackish or fresh water. These areas are traditionally managed by grazing animals or cut mechanically for hay or silage. Grazing marshes are a valuable habitat for breeding wading birds and wintering sites for waterfowl, such as lapwing, snipe and curlew.
The habitat is rare in the UK. There is an estimated 200,000 ha of grazing marsh in England of which only 5,000 ha is semi-natural and supports a high diversity of native plant species.
In the Tees Valley there are remaining fragments of grazing marsh habitats in the low lying areas of the Tees Estuary. Key sites include Seaton Common, Cowpen Marsh, Saltholme and Dorman’s Pool.
