A Braunton Countryside Centre Event

To the south of Braunton Great Field and to the east of Braunton Burrows is the rich pastureland of Braunton Marsh where the only clue to it being a former saltmarsh until 1815 are the depressions left by the old creeks. The range of wildlife here is almost certainly greater than when it was a tidal saltmarsh. The network of drainage ditches lined with the beautiful yellow flag irises are important habitat for dragonflies, damselflies, otters, kingfishers, moorhens and swans and the scattering of rustic barns, known as linhays, provide homes for barn owls. At high tide, the damp pasture fields are an important roosting area for wading birds from the estuary and the waterlogged creeks attract birds like snipe, herons and little egrets.

Horsey Island, now a Devon Wildlife Trust Reserve, has since its reversion to saltmarsh and mudflats become one of the best places in the Taw Torridge Estuary to see large flocks of feeding and roosting wildfowl and waders, as well as rarities such as spoonbill, great white egret and migrating osprey.

Mary Breeds will talk about the history and ecology of the special landscape of Braunton Marsh and Andy Leat, a local ornithologist and bird photographer will show us some of the spectacular birdlife that can be seen here. 

Please feel free to book your space via the form below, although booking is not essential. Suggested £4 donation on the day*.

Braunton Marsh: History & Wildlife – Braunton Countryside Centre