Westfield Marsh (Fen)

Habitat

Bog, Flowers for Pollinators, Mixed Woodland, Wildflower Meadow

Activities

Dog Friendly, Football, Playground, Walking, Wheelchair Accessible

Westfield Marsh is a small wetland close to Westfield School in Acomb accessed via a children’s play area. The fen habitat here is associated with a peat-filled depression, apparently on the site of medieval fish ponds serving Acomb Grange. The marsh supports fen vegetation such as sharp-flowered rush, meadowsweet and brown sedge, whilst marsh marigold is also abundant. A flower-covered slope adjacent to the marsh attracts many colourful butterflies and other insects.

Westfield Marsh is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) as an example of fen habitat. This type of habitat is now rare in much of lowland Britain as a result of intensive agriculture and land drainage.