Bridgwater Baypart of the Somerset Wetland NNR
A sprawling reserve, WWT Steart Marshes and Bridgwater Bay is part of the Somerset Wetland NNR, a holistically managed mosaic of coastal wetlands that many different species rely on year-round.
North of the village of Steart, Bridgwater Bay sits at the mouth of the Rivers Parrett and Brue.
On this serene slice of the Severn Estuary swirling flings of dunlin join knots and lapwing by the thousand in the winter, while the summer sees the bay paying host to Europe’s second largest shelduck moult.
Each year thousands of these colourful birds flock together on the mudflats, temporarily flightless, as they await the growth of new flight feathers, having all shed them at the same time.
What’s here?
The vast majority of the 2,639 hectares of the reserve are composed of intertidal mudflats which provide an invaluable, glistening buffet for waterbirds that feed on mud-dwelling invertebrates as the tide recedes.
Areas of saltmarsh, shingle ridges and reedbed are also present on the reserve, providing a place for a range of wetland species to forage, rest and nest away from people and predators.
Grazing marsh intersected by a complex network of freshwater and brackish ditches provide homes for an array of nationally important invertebrates while reedbeds conceal everything from sedge warblers in summer to bearded tits in the winter. Cattle graze these marshes with high tech virtual fence collars, allowing local farmers to remotely redraw their boundaries and aid conservation efforts as they produce top quality saltmarsh beef. For more information visit the Blue Carbon Farming website.
Why visit?
Outside of the wildlife Bridgwater Bay has some historical significance, being one of the country’s oldest National Natures Reserves and having been used for grazing and fishing for generations.
Its mudflats are an important asset along the coast, crucial for wildlife passing by on the way to or from other reserves such as Brean Down, Berrow Dunes and Blue Anchor to Lilstock Coast SSSIs.
During the Second World War the bay was used as a practice bombing range and unexploded ordnance might still be found to this day.
Visitors exploring the area can visit the Tower Hide at the far north of the reserve, overlooking the bay and marking the end of the Parrett Trail.
