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

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Queen's Marsh from the air
Queen's Marsh from the air

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

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

Queen's Marsh in flood
Queen's Marsh in flood

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.

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.

Queen's Marsh Map
Queen's Marsh Map

Showing the location of the marsh on the wider estate.

Showing the location of the marsh on the wider estate.

Canada Geese at Queen's Marsh
Canada Geese at Queen's Marsh

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.

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.

What might happen at Queen's Marsh?
What might happen at Queen's Marsh?

Image showing some of the biodiversity and ecology possiblities for the project outlined in the feasibility study

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

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