About Mountsorrel > Outdoors > Mountsorrel Marshes
Acquired by the Parish Council for the
enjoyment of the village, Mountsorrel Marshes are a remnant of the wetland
habitats once common in the flood plain of the River Soar. There are only
three similar sites in the Borough of Charnwood and, as such, this site
is of very high wildlife value.
Management of the marsh is essential. Developments in agriculture since the 1940s, aimed at increasing production, have often led to marshes being drained, cultivated or simply left unmanaged. A management plan prepared by the Charnwood Wildlife Project, will manage the marshes in the traditional way by lightly grazing it with cattle.
Without management the vegetation would become coarse and overgrown, with a few dominant plants outgrowing the more delicate species. In time, trees that can tolerate wet conditions, such as alder and willow, would predominate and the site would slowly revert to wet woodland
Marsh is the first and wettest area you encounter, often holding water until the early summer. Plants growing here are adapted to waterlogged conditions. In spring Marsh Marigold and Ragged Robin provide the first flush of colour. During the summer the vegetation grows lush and tall, dominated by sedges and tall waterside grasses such as Reed Canary grass and Reed Sweet-grass.This dense vegetation is an important habitat for spiders and over 20 species have been identified. Waterside birds such as Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting nest amongst the waterside grasses, using the tallest stems as song posts.
Wet pasture occupies the rest of the site. It is slightly drier than the marsh and dominated by meadow grasses such as Meadow Foxtail and Creeping Bent grass. Butterflies such as Ringlet and Small Copper are a common sight on warm sunny days. During the winter, the lower lying areas of the pasture flood and this is where species such as Marsh Foxtail and Tubular Water-dropwort, adapted to seasonal waterlogging, are concentrated.
Ditches are an essential part of wetlands in that they help to regulate water levels and form an important wildlife habitat. In the early spring you might spot frogs and toads spawning, whilst in summer dragonflies and damselflies patrol back and forth looking for suitable insect prey.