Rack Marsh is a 4-hectare (9.9-acre) nature reserve in Bagnor, on the north-western outskirts of Newbury in Berkshire. It is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.[1] It is part of Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain, which is a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest,[2][3] and a Nature Conservation Review site.[1] It is also part of the Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain Special Area of Conservation.[4]

Rack Marsh (Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain)
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Rack Marsh is located in Berkshire
Rack Marsh
Location within Berkshire
LocationBagnor, Berkshire
Grid referenceGrid reference SU322798
Coordinates51°25′13″N 1°21′04″W / 51.4202°N 1.3511°W / 51.4202; -1.3511
InterestBiological
Area4 hectares (9.9 acres)
Notification1996
Location mapDEFRA

Geography and site

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Rack Marsh is an old wet meadow.[1] A thick layer of peat has developed on top of the deposits of alluvium and gravel which the river has spread over the chalk.[1] The river Lambourn flows through the meadow.

 
Aerial view of Rack Marsh, Bagnor, as seen in winter.

History

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There is evidence of prehistoric activity in the area: a prehistoric canoe was discovered in the layer of peat by some labourers who were digging a ditch to form a boundary of a garden.[5]

In 1996 the discovery of the rare Desmoulin's whorl snail on the reserve meant that the Newbury bypass was almost stopped, but the high court ruled in the developers' favour.[6] The decision to continue with the construction of the road meant that the nature reserve was cut in size, losing half its area.[7]

Fauna

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The site has the following fauna:[8][9][1]

Invertebrates

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Birds

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Flora

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The site has the following flora:[8][1][2]

Plants

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Rack Marsh". Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Map of Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Designated Sites View: Kennet & Lambourn Floodplain". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  5. ^ "The History and Antiquities of Newbury and Its Environs: Including Twenty ... - Google Books". 1839. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  6. ^ Matt Weaver and agencies. "End of the road for protected snail | Environment". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  7. ^ "The Newbury bypass 20 years on: A road to environmental ruin or recovery? | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust". Bbowt.org.uk. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "THE WALKER'S GUIDE : DONNINGTON, SNELSMORE & BAGNOR" (PDF). North Wessex Downs. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Rack Marsh gets an Owl Box | the Natureheads blog". Natureheads.wordpress.com. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2017.