Brandon Marsh
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| Brandon Marsh SSSI | |
|---|---|
| Area of Search | United Kingdom |
| Grid Reference | SP385755 |
| Interest | Wildlife |
| Area | West Midlands |
| Notification | 1973 |
Brandon Marsh is an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and nature reserve in Warwickshire, England. It is situated close to the city of Coventry, near the village of Brandon.
The reserve is also the headquarters of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. The 228-acre site, formerly used for sand and gravel quarrying, is owned by LaFarge Industries and is leased to the Trust on a 99-year lease at a cost of £1 a year.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Brandon Marsh Conservation Group was formed in 1968, and by 1973 the site had been confirmed as an SSSI. In 1981 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust came to the agreement mentioned above with Lafarge, leading to the creation of the reserve.
[edit] Visitor centre
The visitor centre at Brandon Marsh was opened in 1998 by Sir David Attenborough. It cost £600,000 to build and was partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Environment Agency, and English Nature. It houses an Education Centre and caters for large amounts of school visits.
[edit] Nature reserve
The nature reserve itself is a large expanse of wetland and pools. There are a number of bird hides in place to observe the wildlife. Large numbers of bird species are resident or passage migrants here, including many ducks, geese and waders. It was the first breeding site in the region for Cetti's Warbler. Other notable species seen here include Bittern and Bearded Tit. As well as birds, the reserve also harbours Otters and many species of Dragonfly and other insects.
