Walton Le Soken Marshes (EHER 48491)

A small triangle of surviving marshland on the south side of Hamford Water, with sea wall and borrow dyke demarcating its northern side and straightened drainage ditches on its two other sides. There is a single house site, formerly Bats Hall. Flora includes Hog’s Fennel Peucedanum officinale, a very rare plant restricted to the local area.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: This small unimproved area is part of the larger Walton Le Soken grazing marsh. The sea wall is still on the same alignment to that of the 1st edition OS map <1>. Very few features associated with the grazing marsh are still visible, though a former house is recorded in the area (Bat Hall) on the 1st edition map, and a former field boundary is visible. Character of vegetation: Dominated by Bent grasses Agrostis spp., Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne, Meadow grass Poa spp. And Red fescue Festuca rubra. Very rare Hog’s fennel Peucedanum officinale (found only in the local area and in Kent) on far side bank of north-eastern borrow dyke. Threats: Threatened by further agricultural improvement and flooding. Shoreline Management Plan: Hold the line to 2105. See <2>.