Editing Halvergate Marshes

{{Short description|Grazing marsh area in Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox SSSI
| name = Halvergate Marshes
| image = Cattle in the Halvergate marshes - geograph.org.uk - 821522.jpg
| image_caption = 
| aos = Norfolk
| interest = Biological
| gridref = {{gbmappingsmall|TG450050}}
| coordinates = {{coord|52.588|1.615|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| displaymap = Norfolk
| map_caption = Halvergate Marshes within Norfolk
| area = {{convert|1430.13|ha|km2 sqmi|2}}
| notifydate = 1995
| enref = 1002542
}}

The '''Halvergate Marshes''' are an area of [[grazing marsh]] in the east of the [[English county]] of [[Norfolk]]. They form part of the area of [[The Broads]] and lie between the [[River Bure]] and the [[River Yare]], bordering [[Breydon Water]] on the east. The marshes cover an area of around {{convert|2642|ha|km2 acre|2}}.<ref name=norfbio>[http://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/actionplans/habitatactionplans/floodplains.aspx Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh - Habitat Action Plan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223183802/http://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/actionplans/habitatactionplans/floodplains.aspx |date=2014-02-23 }}, Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership, December 2005. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref> An area of {{convert|1,432.7|ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=}} is a biological [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref name=dsv>{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002542&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=|title=Designated Sites View:   Halvergate Marshes|series=Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612074104/https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1002542&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=|archive-date=12 June 2018}}</ref><ref name=map>{{cite web|url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002542%27|title= Map of Halvergate Marshes|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher= Natural England|access-date= 12   June 2018|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180612074106/http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271002542%27|archive-date= 2018-06-12}}</ref> Some areas are also in the [[Breydon Water]] [[Local Nature Reserve]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008804&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Breydon Water |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date=  2 June 2018}}</ref> the Broadland and Breydon Water [[Ramsar site]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11010&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Broadland  | series= Ramsar Site|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 25  May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web   |url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11008&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=   |title=Designated Sites View:  Breydon Water   |series=Ramsar Site   |publisher=Natural England   |access-date=25  May 2018   |url-status=live   |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612074104/https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11008&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=   |archive-date=2018-06-12   }}</ref> [[The Broads]] [[Special Area of Conservation]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0013577&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=  |title=Designated Sites View:  The Broads | series=Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date =  25 May 2018}}</ref> and The Broads and Breydon Water [[Special Protection Areas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009253&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Broadland  | series=Special Protection Areass|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 25  May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=  https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9009181&SiteName=&countyCode=29&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Breydon Water  | series=Special Protection Areass|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 25  May 2018}}</ref>

==History==
Halvergate Marshes were an [[estuary]] in [[Roman Britain|Roman]] times and remained a tidal creek into the medieval period.<ref name=lca /><ref name=williamson>Williamson.T (1997) ''The Norfolk Broads" a landscape history'', Manchester University Press.</ref> By the time of [[Domesday Book]] the land was already being used for grazing sheep, with Halvergate being recorded as having 960 sheep at the time, a larger amount than any other part of the marshes.<ref name=williamson /> Some evidence of possible salt workings also remains.<ref name=lca /> Around 400 years ago the land was drained and converted to grazing marsh using a series of [[windpump]]s or windmills and drainage ditches. It was used mainly to graze sheep and cattle, although was occasionally farmed as arable land until [[coastal flooding]] in the 1780s.<ref name=williamson />

Arable ploughing in the 1960s and 70s damaged the ditch landscape and ecology and in the 1980s further draining was undertaken.<ref name=lca /><ref name=cook>Cook. H.F & Williamson.T (1999) ''Water Management in the English Landscape: Field, Marsh and Meadow'', Edinburgh University Press.</ref> This led to the loss of wildlife [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]] and in 1981 an area {{convert|1430|ha|acres}} in size was designated as a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref name=sssicitation>[http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002542.pdf Halvergate Marshes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225031034/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002542.pdf |date=2014-02-25 }}, SSSI citation, [[Natural England]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref> In 1985 the [[Broads Authority]], [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] and [[Countryside Commission]] developed the Broads Grazing Marsh Conservation Scheme, a series of financial incentives to persuade farmers to adopt more environmentally friendly methods on Halvergate Marshes.<ref name=broadsmarsh>[http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/managing/land/grazing-marsh.html Grazing Marsh] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231074832/http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/managing/land/grazing-marsh.html |date=2013-12-31 }}, [[Broads Authority]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref><ref name=clarkobit>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/apr/19/michael-aitken-obituary Aitken Clark obituary], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref><ref name=brouwer>Brouwer.F & van der Straaten.J (2002) ''Nature and Agriculture in the European Union: New Perspectives on Policies that Shape the European Countryside'', Edward Elgar Publishing, p.202.</ref> This led to the creation of the UK's first [[Environmentally Sensitive Area]] on Halvergate Marshes in 1987 and was the prototype for ESAs nationally.<ref name=guardian10may04>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/may/10/ruralaffairs Heaven on earth, Wickhampton, Norfolk], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 2004-05-10. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref><ref name=broadsesa>[http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/closedschemes/esa/broads.aspx Broads ESA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225032226/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/closedschemes/esa/broads.aspx |date=2014-02-25 }}, [[Natural England]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref>

The marshes are dotted with [[windpump]]s, many without sails or even caps. These structures were used for draining the marshes before the introduction of motor or diesel pumps. Among the best preserved are [[Stracey Arms Windpump|Stracey Arms Mill]] on the River Bure, [[Lockgate Mill]], [[Mutton's Mill]] and the [[Berney Arms Windmill]], a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]] on the River Yare.

==Geography==
Halvergate Marshes is the largest area of traditionally managed grazing marsh in the Broadland area.<ref name=sssicitation /> The area is extremely flat and low lying with much of the area at or below sea level. [[Breydon Water]] forms the eastern edge of the marshes with the [[River Yare]] dividing the area from similar areas of marshland to the south.<ref name=lca>[http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/broads/live/planning/landscape-character-assessment/Area_19_-_Halvergate_Marshes.pdf Local character area 19 - Halvergate marshes (excluding Bure loop and the west of Tunstall dyke)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223140508/http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/broads/live/planning/landscape-character-assessment/Area_19_-_Halvergate_Marshes.pdf |date=2014-02-23 }} Broads landscape character assessment, [[Broads Authority]], 2006. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref> The villages of [[Reedham, Norfolk|Reedham]], [[Wickhampton]] and [[Halvergate]] and the higher ground they occupy forms the western edge of the marshes, with the market town of [[Acle]] at the extreme north-west. The [[River Bure]] and the [[Acle Straight]] road form the northern edge. The area of the Site of Special Scientific Interest forms part of the wider marshland area and is mainly located to the south of the Halvergate Fleet waterway and the village of Halvergate.<ref name=lca /> Areas of marshland extend outside of the Halvergate Marshes both to the north and the south.

The area is sparsely populated with a scattering of isolated farms across the marshes, although it may have been more populated in the Medieval period.<ref name=williamson /> [[Berney Arms]] is the site of [[Berney Arms railway station]], one of the most isolated railway stations in England, and at one point had up to 11 inhabited houses.<ref name=lca /> The [[RSPB Berney Marshes]] reserve forms part of the area.<ref name=rspbwork>[http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/work.aspx Berney Marshes and Breydon Water - our work here] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225182125/http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/work.aspx |date=2014-02-25 }}, [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref> The area is crossed by the [[Weavers' Way]] and [[Wherryman's Way]] footpaths.
[[File:Muttonsmill.jpg|thumb|Muttons Mill, partially restored and located on the Halvergate Marshes]]

==Flora and fauna==
Halvergate Marshes support a range of habitats besides grazing marsh, including areas of unimproved pasture, wet fen meadow, reed bed and alder carr. A band of woodland lies along the western edge of the marshes. The drainage ditches which cross the marshes are deemed to be of "outstanding importance for nature conservation" and support a range of freshwater and [[brackish]] communities of plants and [[invertebrate]]s.<ref name=sssicitation />

Freshwater ditch communities, which lie mainly along the western side of the SSSI area, are recognised as being of "being of international importance" and support species such as  broad-leaved pondweed ''[[Potamogeton natans]]'', water violet ''[[Hottonia palustris]]'' and the nationally scarce whorled water milfoil ''[[Myriophyllum verticillatum]]''. Other areas of ditches support species such as the nationally scarce water soldier ''[[Stratiotes|Stratiotes alludes]]'', fen pondweed ''[[Potamogeton coloratus]]'', hairlike pondweed ''[[Potamogeton trichoides]]'' and water parsnip ''[[Sium latifolium]]''. The area of ditch close to [[Breydon Water]] are more brackish in nature and feature species such as soft hornwort ''[[Ceratophyllum submersum]]'' and the nationally scarce stiff saltmarsh grass ''[[Puccinellia rupestris]]''.<ref name=sssicitation />

Invertebrate species associated with the drainage ditches include the nationally rare species Norfolk hawker dragonfly ''[[Aeshna isosceles]]'', the great silver water-beetle ''[[Hydrophilus piceus]]'' and a large hoverfly ''[[Lejops vittatus]]''.<ref name=sssicitation />

Birds typically found on Halvergate Marshes include both wintering species such as [[Bewick's swan]], [[European golden plover|golden plover]] and [[northern lapwing|lapwing]] as well as breeding species such as [[Ruff (bird)|ruff]], [[gadwall]] and [[Northern shoveler|shoveler]]. The Bewick's swan population is considered to be internationally important.<ref name=sssicitation /> The marshes and nearby Breydon Water are an important migration point for a range of bird species in the autumn.<ref name=rspbseasonal>[http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/seasonal_highlights.aspx Berney Marshes and Breydon Water - seasonal highlights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225174839/http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/berneybreydon/seasonal_highlights.aspx |date=2014-02-25 }}, [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]]. Retrieved 2014-02-20.</ref>

==Management==
The [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]] takes a leading role in management on the marshes, working alongside other environmental bodies such as [[Natural England]], [[Norfolk Wildlife Trust]] and the [[Broads Authority]]. Farmers work in collaboration with environmental management agencies, for example to reinstate drainage ditches and dykes to support biodiversity on the marshes.<ref name=edp10nov07>[http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming-news/further_award_for_top_norfolk_beef_unit_1_699993 Further award for top Norfolk beef unit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227010555/http://www.edp24.co.uk/business/farming-news/further_award_for_top_norfolk_beef_unit_1_699993 |date=2014-02-27 }}, ''[[Eastern Daily Press]]'', 2007-11-10. Retrieved 2014-02-21.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Halvergate Marshes}}
{{SSSIs Norfolk }}

[[Category:Norfolk Broads]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Norfolk]]