Burham Marsh

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[edit] BURHAM MARSH :

Map reference: O.S.Map 188 TQ 714615

Location On the eastern banks of the River Medway, north of Aylesford and west of Burham.

Status Part of the Holborough to Wouldham Marshes SSSI.

Access Cars may be parked at Burham Court Church at TQ 717621. A public footpath runs along the river embankment (the sea wall) from which there are good views of most of the reserve and adjacent meadows.

The path is mostly level but soft in wet weather; you can make this a circular walk by including a section of the road. The meadows are often grazed so please keep dogs on a lead.

Points of interest A tidal reedbed of around 11 hectares on the meandering River Medway. Breeding species include reed and sedge warbler and water rail. Wintering species include bearded reedling, snipe, redshank and bittern. During the migration periods significant numbers of swallow and sand martin are seen.

Botanical interest includes the rare marsh sow-thistle and marsh-mallow.

The River Medway at this point attracts a variety of birds including kingfisher, cormorant and various species of duck including teal, shelduck and wigeon. The low lying grassland areas provide grazing and roosting areas for large numbers of geese and ducks, including greylag and wigeon. Herons can often be seen fishing in the dykes, which drain this area.