- Halvergate Marshes
The Halvergate Marshes are
marsh es situated south of theRiver Bure on the Norfolk Broads inNorfolk ,England ,United Kingdom .Halvergate Marshes were an
estuary in Roman times. Around 400 years ago the land was drained and converted to grazing marsh. In the 1980s, further draining was undertaken to convert the area to arablefarm ing, especiallyrapeseed whose cultivation was encouraged by the then European Community (now theEuropean Union ). Under theCommon Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EC guaranteed to buy all the rapeseed produced. This led to overproduction.All this meant that
wildlife habitats were damaged or lost. The area was then designated as anEnvironmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), and traditionalmarsh land grazing andwater levelmanagement was encouraged through cooperation with farmers and landowners. Recently, theRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the local landowner were awarded the designation of aSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) fromEnglish Nature . The farmer had controlled the water level with two dams linked to freshwater underground springs; this provided ideal habitats for marshland plants and animals.The Marshes are dotted with
windpump s, many without sails or even caps. Among the best preserved are Stracey Arms Mill on the River Bure, Lockgate Mill, Mutton's Mill, High's Mill, Cadge's Mill, Kerrison's Level Mill and Runham Swim Mill.Part of the area is
RSPB Berney Marshes , a reserve of theRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds , adjacent toBerney Arms village and Berney Arms windpump.The village of
Halvergate is to the west of the Marshes.ee also
*
Nitrate Sensitive Area (NSA)
*Arable Area Payments Scheme
*Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
*Special Protection Area (SPA)
*Protected area
*Muttons Mill
*Lockgate Mill
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