Pitsea Marsh (EHER 48410)

An area of historic grazing marsh located to the west of Wat Tyler Country Park. Pitsea Hall Fleet survives as a significant water body in the centre of the marsh and there is extensive relict marshland with fossilised creeks, some of which retain water, and straight drainage ditches. The grassland sward has been negatively affected by over grazing.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: The marsh was reclaimed by the time of the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1> and comprises a large area of grazing marsh that has been improved in places. Some areas show evidence of ‘stetch cultivation, but many sinuous drains and relict creeks also survive. Sea walls and many sinuous drains survive as well as straight drains. A large water-filled fleet runs north-south into the centre of the surviving marsh. There is a range of other fleets surviving, one with an earthwork causeway. The Manor Way is an historic routeway along the eastern side of the marsh. The site of a barn (Marsh Barn) is recorded on the 1st edition OS map on the northern edge of the area, now gone <2>. During the Second World War the area was criss-crossed with anti-landing ditches. Counter walls survive well. Character of vegetation: Patchy grassland sward. Common couch-grass Elymus repens, Ryegrass Lolium perenne, Creeping Bent-grass Agrostis stolonifera, Marsh Foxtail Aloepecurus geniculatus, Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus and Meadow Barley Hordeum secalinum all locally abundant. Red Bartsia Odonites verna occurs which supports BAP bumblebee species. Threats: The biodiversity is threatened by drying out and silting up of the water-bodies, and over grazing. Surviving earthworks could be affected by livestock erosion or extension to adjacent nature reserve. See <3>