South_Efford_Marsh

South Efford Marsh

South Efford Marsh

Nature reserve in Devon, England

South Efford Marsh is a nature reserve of the Devon Wildlife Trust. It is situated by the River Avon, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) south-west of the village of Aveton Gifford, in Devon, England.

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Description

The site, area 17 hectares (42 acres), is leased by the Devon Wildlife Trust. It was bought by the Environment Agency in 2009; it had been a grazing marsh by the river estuary since the 1780s, when a retaining wall was built. A tidal gate was installed in 2011, which allows sea water to flow in at high tide. There is now pasture and a developing saltmarsh. Cattle are sometimes put in the marshy fields in order to keep down coarser plants.[1][2][3]

There is a footpath around the northern half of the site; visitors are discouraged from exploring the more open southern half, where there may be nesting and feeding birds.[1]

Birdwatching

There is a bird hide, with all-round views, at the end of the perimeter path.[2]

There are different habitats in the site. In the northern half are sedge warbler, reed bunting and kingfisher; on the banks next to the river, birds to be seen include linnet, whitethroat and chiffchaff; in the salt and brackish water in the south, black-tailed godwit, green sandpiper and oystercatcher are among the birds that may be seen.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    "South Efford Marsh" Aveton Gifford Community Website. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  2. [2]
    "South Efford Marsh" Devon Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  3. [3]
    "South Efford marsh returns as wildlife haven" BBC News, 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
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