Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve Walk

Walk information

0.6 miles (1km) with an option of a further 0.3-mile (0.5km) loop.

One of the special routes in the popular Walks for All series, the path is full of opportunities for everyone to explore the wildlife of this fine nature reserve, even taking advantage of a strategic bird hide as well as secure board walks.

This nature lovers' walk is on generally well-compacted surfaces with some stones of up to 30mm. The parking area offers accessible facilities.

Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, in the Stour Valley, is managed by Natural England.

The reserve grew from the marshland caused by coal mining subsidence, creating large reedbeds, lakes, ditches, meadows and wet woodland.

The diverse habitats support numerous breeding and migrating birds. The lagoons and reedbeds are important for wildfowl. Mallard, gadwall and pochard ducks breed on site most years and in winter they are joined by teal, water rail and widgeon.

Other birds to be seen on the reserve include reed and sedge warbler, bittern, great crested grebe and coot. Flocks of martin, swallow and wagtail stop over in autumn and spring.

Look out for invertebrates, including the nationally rare ram's horn snail, moths, and rare plants such as the carnivorous greater bladderwort, greater spearwort and bog bean.

How to get there

Postcode starting point: CT31 1BB

Car: Access from A257 or A28. In Stodmarsh village, take road to right of the Red Lion Inn and follow to car park. Download a free map from Streetmap and search for 'Stodmarsh.'

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