Grazing Marsh
History of the Broads drained marshes
Historically, the Broads comprised an extensive estuary system. In its lower reaches and close to the river channels, mudflats, salt marsh and upper salt marsh grassland would have been present. In the rivers’ upper reaches, tributaries and flood plain fringes, where freshwater conditions predominated, reed-beds and various fen vegetation types would have thrived.
This historical pattern of vegetation is broadly reflected in the various soil types found in the Broads today, with clay and silt soils in the grazing marsh areas previously under the influence of the brackish river system, and peat soils supporting fen, reed-bed and wet woodland in the upper reaches where freshwater conditions prevailed.
Grazing marsh timescale
13th century
Marsh reclamation started. Sea levels at that time were about a metre below present. Sheep grazing predominated at this time.
16th century
By this time many areas had been reclaimed through improvement to existing flood banks, driven by increases in sea level rise and a wish to increase agricultural production. There was a move towards cattle production in preference to sheep.
18th century
Most of the grazing marshes of today had been drained by this time, and they were still grazed predominantly by cattle. Transient flooding occurred frequently due to the inefficiency of land drainage pumps.
19th century
Enclosure of land took place during the early part of this century, and this paid for improvements to the land drainage infrastructure. From this time onwards, drainage became ever more efficient and flooding became rare.
20th century
Further major improvements to the drainage infrastructure were achieved through technological developments, driven by the wish to maximise agricultural production. In 1913, the first diesel pump was installed. During the 1930s, the 18 Internal Drainage Boards within the Broads came into existence and during the late 1930s and 1940s highly efficient electrical pumps became widespread.
21st century
In March 2005 the government introduced a new Environmental Stewardship scheme, to replace most other agri-environment schemes, including the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme (ESA).
Wildlife response to grazing marsh management
Throughout the whole and continuing history of the Broads grazing marshes, there is no doubt that they represent an outstanding wildlife resource, in particular for wetland birds, and aquatic plants and invertebrates within the extensive dyke systems.
However, it is clear from studying and comparing historical records of numbers and variety of species of birds and plants on these grazing marshes with those of the present day (see Broads Drained Marsh Strategy), that with each stage of agricultural intensification, there has been a corresponding decline in the value of the grazing marshes to wildlife.
In spite of the positive changes to the management of the grazing marshes achieved through the ESA scheme, there has not been, as yet, the wide scale improvement in wildlife hoped for; indeed recent studies indicate that the decline is continuing.
It is increasingly considered that other factors, such as diffuse pollution, also have a significant influence on the health of the whole Broads wetland ecosystem. In the coming years, it is anticipated that measures introduced under the Water Framework Directive will contribute to the recovery of the grazing marshes.
Grazing marsh wildlife today
The Broads grazing marshes represent a considerable wildlife resource, supporting internationally important populations of wintering waterfowl and raptors, and aquatic plant and wet woodland communities, in addition to nationally important populations of breeding waders and waterfowl, and other plant and invertebrate communities.
Dyke plants and animals
The grazing marshes possess a ditch network of outstanding importance for nature conservation, acting as a reservoir for some of the plant and animal species lost from the broads themselves. Over 80 per cent of the grazing marsh area possesses ditch types of at least national importance. The freshwater types rich in pondweeds are recognised as being of international importance.
Grazing marsh plants
The majority of the grazing marshes are of limited botanical interest, partly as a result of agricultural improvements, but also because of the clay and silt soil types, which in a grazing marsh situation tend not to support a particularly diverse range of plants. However, some areas of peaty soils within the grazing marsh complex are extremely species-rich, supporting plants such as ragged robin and a range of orchid species.
Grazing marsh birds
The Broads grazing marshes are perhaps best known for the birds that use them for breeding, spending the winter and on migration. In addition to supporting internationally and nationally important populations of 10 species of wintering waterfowl, other species such as common snipe are present all year, and many bird species, such as redshank, lapwings and oystercatchers breed on these areas. Skylarks are numerous, as are yellow wagtails and meadow pipits. Barn owls, short- eared owls, kestrels and occasionally marsh harriers feed on the abundant supply of small mammals, while herons can be seen fishing by the side of dykes.
Broads Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme
In 1985, the Broads Authority pioneered the Broads Grazing Marshes Conservation Scheme, which offered landowners financial support to retain grass marshes as an alternative to incentives under the Common Agricultural Policy to turn these areas over to arable production.
This scheme provided a prototype for the Broads Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme (ESA), which was one of a series of ESAs introduced at a national level three years later in 1987.
The ESA scheme, combined with the production of water level management plans for whole area, largely reversed the trend of agricultural intensification which took place throughout much of the previous three or four decades. It also prevented further damage to the grazing marshes by providing incentives for grassland management, higher water levels and reduced fertiliser usage. The simple options and payment system that operated within the ESA encouraged a high uptake of this voluntary scheme within the Broads grazing marshes.
This scheme is no longer open for landowners to join, but it is still highly relevant to the management of the Broads grazing marshes, as it is the scheme which much of the land has been managed within for the past 18 years. Some land will remain within the terms of the Broads ESA until the expiry date of all agreements, which may be as late as 2012.
As well as providing an incentive for the reversion of arable to grass, there were three options for management of existing grazing marshes, the highest payments being directed towards those options, such as raising water levels within the dykes, that would deliver the greatest environmental gain.
The Environmental Stewardship (ES) scheme was introduced in March 2005, and has replaced the Broads Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme.
