Grazing at Wilden Marsh

With a total area of 37.50 hectares and occupying about 50% of the River Stour floodplain/corridor between Kidderminster and Stourport, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve and SSSI forms the largest continuous extent of marshland in Worcestershire. Marshland is becoming increasingly scarce and Wilden Marsh contains many plants now uncommon elsewhere, as well as being an important breeding site for many species of wetland birds. 192 species of bird have been recorded on the reserve, with about 70 of these regularly breeding there. These include yellow wagtails, redshank and nine species of warblers.

Wilden Marsh is a difficult site to manage due to the wet conditions. We need to employ a conservation grazier, who is experienced and capable of grazing native breeds on challenging sites.