Photo by Steve Laskey
Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve
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Wildlife features: Waders and Wildfowl, Lime-rich grassland. Multimap link: Click here to see Multimap aerial photo 134 acres (54 ha) in all, with 50 acres of ancient marsh bounded by grazed meadows and man-made lakes, together with 80 acres of lime-rich grassland. There are three viewing platforms. To prevent disturbance please keep to the footpaths. A regular visitor to the Marsh has started a "blog", in which he lists interesting wildlife records and photographs. Click here to access the site. Please note, TVWT can accept no responsibility for the content of external websites. |
| The reserve is about 2 miles (3km) west of Redcar. From Middlesbrough take the A1085 Redcar to Middlesbrough trunk road, turning left up Kirkleatham Lane at the Shell garage. From the A19, take the A174, at the second roundabout take the second exit (signposted Redcar) continue straight on for about 2.5 miles at the next mini roundabout turn left (signposted South Gare/Warrenby). The car park is reached from Tod Point Road, follow the signs for South Gare and the reserve is on your left as you cross the old railway bridge. |
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This urban reserve may be surrounded by housing and industry, but its wetland features attract a large and diverse bird population making it well worth a visit at any time of the year. There are reports of a Roman signal station existing at Coatham and it was also one of the last places in the country in open rebellion against William the Conqueror. In the 16th Century the marshes were used as a location for extracting salt from seawater and the resulting small mounds (saltings) can be seen on the eastern side of the reserve. The Wildfowl were also a source of food for local inhabitants and the rabbits were farmed locally (hence the name Warrenby). About 50 acres of marsh remain, chiefly in the centre of the reserve. A freshwater fleet (a run of water) crosses nearby, broadening into a sedge fringed pool. There are also two man-made freshwater lakes, formed in the 1970’s from what was a refuse tip. |
View towards Corus plant from the railway footbridge
Photograph by Steve Laskey
| The reserve also includes 80 acres of dry grassland growing
on dumped furnace waste called slag. The lime in the waste encourages a
fascinating summer library of Yellow-wort, Stonecrop and other lime-loving
flowers.
In summer, areas of the reserve are covered in a wonderful display of Bee and Marsh Orchids. |
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Lapwing
Photograph: Darin Smith © |
In spring, the Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear and Whinchat are commonly seen, and Bluethroat and Black Redstart can be seen occasionally. Summer sees the Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler in the tall vegetation to the north. Winter is Coatham’s most spectacular time when flocks of a 1,000 Lapwing, 500 Teal and Wigeon and Shoveler can fill the sky. Many of these are attracted to the scrape on West Marsh (a hide nearby). More than 200 species have been recorded here, with Little Egret and Black-winged Stilt two of the real rarities. |
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The reserve is also lucky enough to have a small native population of Harvest Mice, which make their homes amongst the reed beds. The Coatham Marsh is well worth a visit at any time of year, when you are in the middle of the reserve surrounded by the whisper of the wind in the reeds and the sound of birdsong you imagine you are miles from anywhere. |
Harvest Mouse
Photograph: Darin Smith © |
