A ditch and sluice gate on Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve

Image: © Marathon Taken: 1 May 2016

The earliest recorded use of the land which now makes up the National Nature Reserve of Stodmarsh was by Augustinian monks during medieval times. The monks dug ditches to bring the mineral-rich river floodwater onto the meadows to flood them and make the grass more productive. The marsh was used for grazing mares in foal and at this time was known as Stud-marsh. In the early 18th century a flood defence barrier, the Lampen Wall, was constructed by Flemish engineers to prevent excessive flooding in the Grove Ferry area. This more efficient drainage of the valley was reversed by the opening of Chislet Colliery at the start of the 20th century. The land subsided due to the underground working and became waterlogged. By the 1930s small lagoons had formed in the meadows. Reed beds then developed, spreading from the river banks to cover the wetter areas. The marsh was then used for wildfowling. The land was notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1951 and became a National Nature Reserve in 1968.

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