Queen’s Marsh restoration project
Queen’s Marsh is a a project aiming to create a home for a vast array of wildlife – from otters and bats to wading birds and fish – and to ensure that current and future generations can observe and engage with the wildlife on the Dartington estate.
Project in pictures
Tap/hover for captions and to enlarge
Aerial shots of the area that will ultimately become a biodiversity-rich wetland. In the left hand image, the A385 is seen on the right, with Totnes visible in the distance. Photography: Gifford Hooper
While the Marsh does sometimes flood, water also recedes almost as rapidly. The new ponds created as part of this project will ensure a continuous water habitat. Thanks to Gillian Cartwright for sending in this fantastic image.
Showing the location of the marsh on the wider estate.
When the field is in flood it becomes more attractive to wildlife. This project aims to create a diversity of habitats, allowing an equally diverse array of species to use the site permanently - ensuring it gets far more visitors than these sporadically present Canada geese.
Image showing some of the biodiversity and ecology possiblities for the project outlined in the feasibility study
What’s happening at Queen’s Marsh?
Where
Seven hectares of wet grassland at the southern tip of the estate (see gallery for map)
What
A restoration project to create wetland habitats for wildlife, enhance public enjoyment of the area, and reduce potential future flood risk. The first stage of work has begun, as we dig out two ponds, seven scrapes and regrade the bank of the Bidwell brook – full details on the current work can be found in our latest updates below ⇓
Why
Many people enjoy the Dartington Hall estate’s beautiful scenery and native wildlife. However, at Queen’s Marsh, farming practices and other factors have unwittingly contributed to a decrease in biodiversity over the years.
Now, with the support of Natural England, the Environment Agency, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and individuals making donations we have an opportunity to change that story. The State of Nature report, published in 2016, revealed that 56 of our UK wildlife species have declined in recent years. This is our chance to play our own small part in putting that right.
Jump to our latest updates below for more info.
Useful links
Archive gallery: Looking back at the history of Queen’s Marsh and how we’re learning from the past
Feasibility study: The project feasibility assessment in full (or read the highlights here)
Follow this project: How to stay up to date with developments
Queen’s Marsh blogs
Food and Farming blog: New bird hide design is a winner!
Students from the University of Plymouth have created a design inspired by Dartington’s kingfishers – but we need your feedback to help us decide where the new bird hide should be located.
Work starts on first stage of Queen’s Marsh wetland habitat restoration
Work has begun to transform Queen’s Marsh area into a wetland home for a vast array of wildlife – but the help of the public is needed to ensure the project can be completed.
Food and Farming blog: Our ducks are in a row – now they’re getting a pond
After much planning, it’s time for action! Work to create the fundamental structure for reinstating the entire 7 hectares of Queen’s Marsh field as a wetland has now been confirmed – read on to find out more.
Food and Farming blog: Getting our ducks in a row at Queen’s Marsh
Following the results of a feasibility study which recommended proactively reinstating wetland habitats in Queen’s Marsh, Harriet has been trying to do exactly that – but it’s not the simplest of tasks…
Food and Farming blog: Wetland restoration vision takes shape
Last autumn we asked for help with a feasibility study we had commissioned into the potential to restore Queens Marsh to a wetland habitat. Here, Harriet reveals the study’s conclusions…
Food and Farming blog: Rediscovering the secrets of Queen’s Marsh
Harriet takes a fascinating look through the archives, in an effort to understand the history of Queen’s Marsh – an exercise that will help guide Dartington’s potential restoration of the site.