Walton Marsh (EHER 48485)

A large area of mainly improved marshland on the east side of Hamford Water; west and north of the Naze. The marsh has a sea wall and borrow dyke, with mainly straight drainage ditches, although sinuous creeks and water-filled fleets do survive internally. Smaller areas of relict salt marsh survive on the northern end of the Naze, with important vegetation communities.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: This area consists of large open fields that appear to have been well drained and their boundaries straightened, although a number of water-filled fleets remain. The area probably wasn’t reclaimed until the early 19th century. Very few other features associated with the grazing marsh are still visible. A number of Second World War bomb craters have been recorded. The grassland has been largely improved, with ploughing in places as recently as 2006. Character of vegetation: Improved grazing marsh. Dominated by grasses such as Bent grasses Agrostis spp., Red fescue Festuca rubra and Meadow Barley Hordeum secalinum. Scattered Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna along field boundaries. Relict salt marsh areas at north end of the Naze include: semi-improved grazing marsh, dominated by grasses such as Creeping Bent Agrostis stolonifera, Perennial Rye-grass Lolium perenne and Red Fescue Festuca rubra with Sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosella, Greater bird’s-foot trefoil Lotus pedunculatus and Common Vetch Vicia sativa scattered throughout. Sea clubrush Scirpus maritimus and Soft rush Juncus effuses in ditches. Threats: Threatened by further agricultural improvement, drying out and flooding. Shoreline Management Plan: Could be subject to managed realignment from 2055. See <1>.