Steart Marshes

Steart Marshes also have the additional benefit of offering a rare salt-marsh environment and bringing a variety of animal species to the area. There have been nesting avocets on the reserve since it was established, as well as visits by other bird species such as the glossy ibis, spoonbill, and the ringed plover. Water voles and otters live in the area, as do the cows and sheep that graze on the wetlands’ grasslands. A network of trails winds its way around the reserve, taking you to the River Parrett and the town of Combwich. The Steart Peninsula has been transformed into many hectares of new salt-marsh and freshwater habitats, illustrating how wetlands benefit both animals and humans. Hundreds of thousands of waders and wildfowl visit the location each year, particularly during the winter months.