RESERVE TYPE - mixture of flood plain and grassland on the urban fringe.
STATUS - The site is owned and managed by the Environment Agency
ACCESS - The site lies to the north of Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, at O.S. grid reference SK574373. Wilford Lane (B573) runs from where Loughborough Rd (A60) and takes you through to the A453 at Clifton Bridge. The site is on your right, use the large car park for Wilford Sports field (also on your left). Cross the Greythorne Dyke and walk along it towards the Trent, the Marsh will be on your left.
DESCRIPTION - Bounded to the north by the River Trent, to the south-east by Greythorne Dyke,. Gresham Marsh is a Grade One Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
It comprises an area of grassland in the flood plain of the River Trent, parts of which have developed wetland communities as a result of flooding caused by mining subsidence. The habitats present on the site are an area of reed swamp, including some seasonal open water and an area of rank grassland (with species rich remenants),plus hedgelines and scattered scrub with significant species and the Greythorne Dyke with interesting aquatic plant communities.
FLORA - Fine-leaved water-dropwort, an uncommon species in Nottinghamshire, is found widely in the marsh; marsh dock is a significant species recorded in the marsh; and trifid bur-marigold was present in 1998 U. The southern quarter of the site shows a varied transition between reed swamp and rough grassland, characterised by occasional small stands of reed canary-grass, and individual plants of soft-rush, gyipsywort, false fox-sedge and greater willowherb. This area is liable to flooding at certain times of year. The reed swamp area and associated ponds also support creeping bent, creeping buttercup, forget-me-not, bittersweet, greater reedmace and common duckweed.
The remaining open areas of the site are rank grassland, with occasional plants of great burnet, cuckoo flower and lesser stichwort. A ridge and furrow topography is visible in places. Other species present include Yorkshire fog, creeping thistle, common knapweed. The thin strip of slightly higher ground on the northern edge of the site (closest to the adjacent flood bank) holds species rich dry grassland. This is the typical community of unimproved lowland hay meadow. The species present include harebell, black knapweed, lady's bedstraw, bird's-foot trefoil and salad burnet. The bird's-foot trefoil has also colonised the adjacent flood bank.
The other habitats present on the site are hedge lines and scattered scrub. The hedges include significant species such as Midland hawthorn, purging buckthorn and dogwood.
The Greythorne Dyke is described as a Eutrophic watercourse with mown grass banks. The dominant aquatic species is common duckweed with occasional common water-starwort, curled pondweed and Canadian waterweed. The dominant emergent species is branched bur-reed, with abundant water mint and also present were common water-plantain, spike-rush, greater reedmace and tufted-sedge.
FAUNA - No detailed records of the fauna present on the site exist. A botanical survey in 1995 recorded meadow pipit, reed bunting, Cicadella virdis a species of leafhopper associated with damp grassland, and small copper butterfly.
A 1983 survey of the site recorded wall brown butterfly, water voles, tadpoles and the following birds lesser whitethroat, reed bunting, swallow, house martin, starling, song thrush greenfinch, linnet, blackbird, goldfinch, dunnock, sedge warbler. Moorhen, swift and redpoll were also recorded. Redshank, greenshank and little ringed plover had been recorded prior to this survey.
SITE MANAGEMENT - For many years the site was grazed by horses, but that ceased over 10 years ago and the grassland has gradualy become very rank, smothering out much of the diversity. The Environment Agency offered the site to Notts wildlife Trust as part of a deal involving housing on adjacent land. When planning permission was not forthcoming that offer lapsed. However during 1998 and 1999 interest in the site revived particularly due to efforts by local NWT members.
The Environment Agency have now commissioned a a management plan for the site. This emphasises the importance of getting the rank grassland under control and trying to restore the species rich aspects. In the winter of 1999 there was a haycut and in spring 2000 the EA fenced the grassland and created a board walk. The site is now being grazed by a packet of hebredian sheep from NWT`s "Flying Flock" for at least three years (courtesy of funding from a Severn Trent water environmental fund).
Hebridian sheep from the Trust`s "Flying Flock" grazing the species rich grassland