Brightlingsea Marsh (EHER 48476)

A large area of improved and unimproved grazing marsh, on the south side of Brightlingsea. Characteristic features include sea wall, sinuous former creeks, and water-filled fleets, straightened drainage ditches and stetch cultivation earthworks. A number of red hills and Second World War defences are known from the marsh. The grassland has been improved and is managed through grazing.

2014. Historic Grazing Marsh Project. Historic environment character: A large area of reclaimed marshland along the south side of Brightlingsea, adjacent to the Colne Estuary that was reclaimed before the Chapman and Andre map of 1777 <1>. The marsh is enclosed on its seaward side by a sea wall and short lengths of borrow dyke. The sea wall used to support the train line between Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea, which enclosed an additional narrow strip of marsh when it was built and left the original sea wall to its landward side. The inland boundary is the interface with higher ground, marked by largely straight and hedge field boundaries and ditches. The area includes fields of semi-improved grassland divided by a series of straight drainage ditches, and a couple on the lines of former creeks that are more sinuous in nature. Evidence for prehistoric/Roman activity is known from discoveries of red hill salt making sites. Second World War defences included anti-landing ditches and a minefield. Character of vegetation: Improved grazing marsh with scattered trees and hedgerow field boundaries. Australian swamp stonewort Crassula helmsii is invasive in ditches. Rough grassland along the southwestern long edge dominated by Sea Couch Elymus pycnanthus and Couch E. repens. Fields dominated by grasses Creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, Meadow barley Hordeum secalinum and Red fescue Festuca rubra. Thistles Cirsium spp. is frequent across whole area. Threats: Marsh vegetation is well managed and not currently threatened. Ditch vegetation is threatened by invasive Crassula helmsii. Flooding by the sea poses a threat. Shoreline Management Plan: Hold the line to 2025 and then northern section could be subject to managed realignment. See <2>.