Rack Marsh
{{Short description|Nature reserve in Berkshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox SSSI
|image=Rack Marsh, Bagnor - geograph.org.uk - 925042.jpg
|name=Rack Marsh (Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain)
|aos=Bagnor, Berkshire
|displaymap=Berkshire
|interest=Biological
|gridref={{gbmapping|cap=1small|SU322798}}
|coordinates={{coord|51.4202|-1.3511|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}}
|area= {{convert| 4 |ha|acre|abbr=off}}
|notifydate=1996
|map=[http://www.magic.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=sssiPIndex,sssiIndex,backdropDIndex,backdropIndex,europeIndex,vmlBWIndex,25kBWIndex,50kBWIndex,250kBWIndex,miniscaleBWIndex,baseIndex&box=444296:168838:446070:169639&useDefaultbackgroundMapping=false DEFRA]
}}
Rack Marsh is a {{convert| 4 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} nature reserve in Bagnor, on the north-western outskirts of Newbury in Berkshire. It is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/rack-marsh |title= Rack Marsh |publisher= Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust |accessdate= 17 February 2020}} It is part of Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain, which is a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest,{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/2000109.pdf |title=Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain citation|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 17 February 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%272000109%27|title=Map of Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate=17 February 2020}} and a Nature Conservation Review site. It is also part of the Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain Special Area of Conservation.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0030044&SiteName=&countyCode=44&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Kennet & Lambourn Floodplain | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 4 October 2019}}
Geography and site
Rack Marsh is an old wet meadow. A thick layer of peat has developed on top of the deposits of alluvium and gravel which the river has spread over the chalk. The river Lambourn flows through the meadow.
History
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.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=86iJOW4DJScC&q=Rack+Marsh&pg=PA171 |title=The History and Antiquities of Newbury and Its Environs: Including Twenty ... - Google Books |year=1839 |accessdate=2017-04-15}}
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.{{cite web|author=Matt Weaver and agencies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/jul/27/conservationandendangeredspecies.uknews |title=End of the road for protected snail | Environment |work=The Guardian |date= |accessdate=2017-04-15}} The decision to continue with the construction of the road meant that the nature reserve was cut in size, losing half its area.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/bbowtblog/2016/04/01/newbury-bypass-20-years-road-environmental-ruin-or-recovery |title=The Newbury bypass 20 years on: A road to environmental ruin or recovery? | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust |publisher=Bbowt.org.uk |date=2016-04-01 |accessdate=2017-04-15}}
Fauna
The site has the following fauna:{{cite web|url=http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/userUpload/map310316.pdf |title=THE WALKER'S GUIDE : DONNINGTON, SNELSMORE & BAGNOR |publisher=North Wessex Downs |date= |accessdate=2017-04-15}}{{cite web|url=https://natureheads.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/rack-marsh-gets-an-owl-box/ |title=Rack Marsh gets an Owl Box | the Natureheads blog |publisher=Natureheads.wordpress.com |date=2009-10-05 |accessdate=2017-04-15}}
=Invertebrates=
=Birds=
Flora
=Plants=
References
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{{Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust }}
Category:Parks and open spaces in Berkshire
Category:Nature reserves in Berkshire
Category:Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust