Reserves: The Haven
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT)
Iris
Haven in Winter
Conservation Status:
- Part of the Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes SSSI.
- No high priority species present
- Notable species :
Common Reed (Phragmites australis) |
Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) |
Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) |
The Haven is leased to SBBOT by Mr Richard Daw. It is part of the Ancient Cut, an abandoned canal dating back to the 16th Century constructed to link the Cinque Port of Sandwich with the sea due to the silting up of the Stour.
This artificial gully holds water in the winter and spring, and remains damp for much of the rest of the year. A surrounding fence elimnates livestock grazing. It was planted with Willow and Sallow during the mid 1970s as cover to attract migrant birds. The area is not ordinarily open to the public.
The management aim is to maintain the high structural diversity of wetland plants in line wih SSSI notification and where possible to provide shelter for migrant birds..
As a man-made hedgerow, it is an excellent lure for migrant birds, including scarcities such as Marsh Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Pallas's Warbler.
Rarer sightings include Sardinian Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Melodious Warbler and Golden Oriole.
