About the reserve

Sitting within Marbury Country Park, the Trust looks after the 15 acre Marbury reedbed nature reserve on the western banks of Budworth Mere SSSI.  Looking out from the bird hide in the country park across the water, or taking the walk to reserve itself, there is a range of habitats to explore.

The reedbed, carr woodland and semi-natural broadleaved woodland all demonstrate the various stages of ‘hydrosere’ succession (habitats changing from open water to eventual woodland).   The open water contains a rich selection plants including water lilies, and provides valuable feeding and breeding habitat for kingfisher, little grebe and great crested grebe. 

The reedbed is almost exclusively composed of common reed Phragmities australis and is a residence for summer songsters, such as reed and sedge warblers. In recent years the reedbed has been used as an over-wintering site for bittern and the Trust manages the reedbed for this secretive heron by cutting glades through the reeds to allow better feeding opportunities. The diminutive and shy lesser spotted woodpecker has also been seen occasionally in the reserve’s woodlands. 

A new boardwalk trail through the reedbed was introduced in 2012, and can be accessed from the main path near the bird hide - look out for the information board.

Please note: to minimise disturbance to over-wintering bitterns this trail will be closed for a period during the winter months.