Howlands Marsh

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{infobox park

| name = Howlands Marsh

| photo = Flag Creek - geograph.org.uk - 1356529.jpg

| photo_caption =

| type = Nature reserve

| grid_ref_UK = TM 115 169

| location = St Osyth, Essex

| area = 29.9 hectares

| manager = Essex Wildlife Trust

}}

Howlands Marsh is a {{convert|29.9|hectare|acre|adj=on}} nature reserve north-east of St Osyth in Essex. It is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= http://www.essexwt.org.uk/reserves/howlands-marsh |title= Howlands Marsh |publisher= Essex Wildlife Trust |accessdate= 3 November 2016}} It is part of the Colne Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest{{cite web|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000666.pdf |title=Colne Estuary citation |series=Sites of Special Scientific Interest |publisher=Natural England |accessdate=23 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208152008/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000666.pdf |archivedate=8 December 2015 }} Special Protection Area{{cite web |url= http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2018-theme=default |title= Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) |publisher= Joint Nature Conservation Committee |accessdate= 3 November 2016 |archive-date= 4 November 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161104080109/http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2018-theme=default |url-status= dead }} and Ramsar site,{{cite web|url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/RIS/UK11015.pdf|publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee|title=Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS): Colne Estuary (Mid-Essex Coast Phase 2) |accessdate= 2 November 2016}} and the Blackwater Flats and Marshes Nature Conservation Review site.{{cite book|first=Derek |last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |pages=7–8 |authorlink=Derek Ratcliffe |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521-21403-3 }}

This site is marshy grassland, which is low lying and hummocky, and divided by water channels. There are also areas of saltmarsh, which has sea wormwood and golden samphire. Breeding birds include reed warblers, skylarks, lapwings and reed buntings.

There is access by a footpath from the B1027 road.