Our reserve
Bergh Apton Conservation Trust owns and manages a nature reserve of about 22 acres (8.9 ha) in the valley of the River Chet. The whole area has been designated a County Wildlife Site (CWS 2222). The reserve comprises three distinct compartments, acquired over a span of some 26 years: Church Plantation (1994), Valley Marsh (2007) and Wellbeck Marsh (2020).
Church Plantation
The purchase of 4.25 acres (1.72 ha) of mixed woodland, with grassy clearings and patches of scrub, on the northern flank of the Chet Valley prompted the formation of the trust in 1994. Subsequently, the donation of a small parcel of land to rationalise the southern boundary increased the area to 4.5 acres (1.82 ha). Historically woodland, in the 20th century it was used commercially for gravel extraction, notably for the construction of Seething airfield. Gravel was probably last extracted in the early 1970s. The sand and gravel substrates characteristic of this site were deposited by the river, as ice-age glaciers melted. Although on a sloping valley side, the irregular topography is a legacy of episodes of gravel extraction: lenses of gravel deposits were excavated leaving deep holes and where the excavations reached the water table, there are two small ponds.
There are many oak trees (Quercus robur). Most of the older ones are multi-stemmed, having been coppiced at some time, probably as a result of the gravel working, but the younger ones are usually standards. The commonest tree currently however is sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), a prolific seed-producer and the fastest invader after the disturbance ceased. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is also common in the canopy, with some Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). The understorey, where present, includes hazel (Corylus avellana), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), holly (Ilex aquifolium) and elder (Sambucus nigra). The thickets of scrub are dominated by brambles (Rubus fruticosus agg.), gorse (Ulex europaeus) and broom (Cytisus scoparius). The grassy clearings, previously maintained by rabbit grazing, are accompanied by substantial stands of stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) and bracken (Pteridium aquilinum). Features of the varied ground flora in spring are swathes of bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus) under old sycamore coppice and moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina). Rabbit scrapes formerly allowed the establishment of annuals and other plants able to exploit disturbance and local nutrient enrichment but rabbit activity has declined considerably in recent times.
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Valley Marsh
The next development was the acquisition of 5.5 acres (2.23 ha) of marshland in the valley bottom to the north of the river in 2007 and connected by a narrow isthmus to Church Plantation.
The soil here is deep fen peat, accumulated from the incomplete decomposition of fen vegetation under waterlogged conditions. Much of the area has been abandoned grazing marsh but with two large stands of mature alder (Alnus glutinosa) carr. In 2013, we completed the removal of a crop of c. 70 over-age cricket-bat willows (Salix alba var. caerulea) that had previously dominated the marsh and its hydrology.
A large, deep pond had been constructed in 1997 as part of the surface-water drainage scheme for the Bergh Apton closed land-fill site. This pond overflows into one of two parallel dykes that drain into the river Chet. This pond, by virtue of its role in the drainage system and location, is nutrient-rich and depleted in oxygen supply. The surface tends to be dominated by a dense cover of duckweeds (especially the invasive lesser duckweed, Lemna minissima). However, it provides habitat for water voles and fowl – as well as many invertebrates. We have cleared trees from its boundary and built a pond-dipping platform to provide better access for visitors of all ages.
In 2016 a new pond with tiered shelves was excavated in the valley-bottom peat. In contrast this pond is groundwater-fed and has gin-clear water, facilitating rapid colonisation by stoneworts (Chara vulgaris), limestone-encrusted algae that are discerning indicators of good water quality. It has also proved a magnet for pondlife generally, especially dragonflies, whether flying, mating, laying eggs or emerging from their nymphs.
Repeated annual mowing and removal of the herbaceous marsh vegetation has transformed the plant community, from one dominated by stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) to a colourful mixture, featuring red campion (Silene dioica), greater willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum), meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca), hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), bindweed (Calystegia sepium), lesser pond sedge (Carex acutiformis) and reed canary grass (Glyceria maxima), amongst many other species. There are sporadic occurrences of common spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Southern marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) and bee orchids (Ophrys apifera).
The wet woodland (carr) of mature alder (Alnus glutinosa) harbours a fine population of buckler ferns (Dryopteris dilatata) and requires little management. The dykes harbour further aquatic biodiversity, including hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
The diversity of animal life includes 12 mammal species (including yellow-necked mouse, water shrew and water vole), common frogs, toads, grass snakes and slow worms.
Wellbeck Marsh
The purchase of the 12 acres (4.9 ha) of Wellbeck Marsh in 2020 extended the reserve onto the far (southern) side of the River Chet. It can be accessed only by two oak foot bridges, constructed in 2020, that allow a circular route.
This compartment includes another large area of tall-herb marsh on the valley peat but also some wet woodland and scrub habitat. Much of the area is abandoned grazing marsh that has not been managed for several decades; in consequence its vegetational diversity is currently lower than that of Valley Marsh. The area is traversed by a substantial dyke, with aquatic vegetation, that drains into the R. Chet. Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is found frequently on the banks here alongside meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), greater pond sedge (Carex riparia), great willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and grey willow line the ditch in places, whereas other areas are open. The ditch further west supports fool’s watercress (Apium nodiflorum).
North of the main dyke the marsh is fairly open, with occasional grey willow (Salix cinerea) scrub present. Mainly dominated by lesser pond sedge (Carex acutiformis) and abundant hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), species found that are indicative of wet fen/grassland include frequent blunt flowered rush (Juncus subnodulosus) and common valerian (Valeriana officinalis), occasional to locally frequent brown sedge (Carex disticha) and rare common hemp nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit). Other species found across the marsh include occasional tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), greater birds-foot trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus) and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Stinging nettle (is present but not at all dominant. The marsh is a little drier and more nutrient-rich just north of the ditch with plants such as nettle, cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), false oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) and creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) all abundant. This probably indicates an area where slubbings from the ditch have been left historically. To the northern edge of the field there are small patches of reed sweet grass (Glyceria maxima) swamp. Moving west the marsh becomes more dominated by ranker species; nettle and creeping thistle still with valerian, hemp nettle, water mint (Mentha aquatica), hemp agrimony interspersed but less frequently than the eastern section. South of the central ditch the site is a mosaic of marsh habitat, willow scrub and woodland. Immediately south of the ditch lies a reed sweet grass swamp interspersed with creeping thistle, cleavers (Galium aparine) and bindweed (Calystegia sepium). The topography rises slightly in the south where the soils dry out further and a small area has recently had trees planted sparsely in amongst the grassland. Where the grassland merges into woodland we have seen sporadic common spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza fuschii).
Wellbeck Marsh is the main focus of our management efforts currently. In 2023 we completed the removal of a further 38 over-age cricket-bat willows to promote the restoration of marsh hydrology and vegetation. The marsh itself has been subject to cutting and raking of the vegetation in 2022 and, more recently, seasonal conservation grazing with Belted Galloway cattle.