Rainham, Wennington and Aveley Marshes (EHER 48398)

A small triangle of surviving marsh situated between the A13 flyover and CTRL The area was part of ‘Rainham level’ during the late medieval period. There are one or two sinuous drainage ditches representing the courses of old creeks. The marsh’s setting has been totally compromised by modern industrial development and transport infrastructure. Current land use is grazing. The marsh is dominated by common grasses, but includes nationally rare divided sedge Carex divisa.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. The marsh is considered medieval in origin, and was certainly completed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. During the late medieval period the marsh was part of ‘Rainham Level’. The 1st edition OS map <2> shows that the marsh was originally connected to Wennington Road to the north by a double ditched causeway/track. The marsh is open, sub divided by two or more surviving ditches that highlight the courses of old creeks. There is a circular pond that may have originated as a Second World War. A modern electricity pylon is located in one corner and one of the ditches is crossed by a modern bridge. The marsh is roughly 50% short grass used for grazing, and 50% un-grazed. The areas of shorter grass appear to have been poached by livestock. Character of vegetation: Important for the nationally rare divided sedge Carex divisa. Short grazed area mostly dominated by common grasses such as red fescue Festuca rubra, meadow foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus and perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne. Threats Threats to the marsh are high. Part of the area is severely degraded by the construction of the A13 flyover. There are risks of pollution from the A13 flyover and inappropriate management. Drying out of marsh and silting up of ditches. See <3>.