About the reserve

Morton Marsh is a wonderful wetland site that sits next to Sandown Meadow Nature Reserve, creating an unbroken 8km stretch of land, from Bembridge Harbour to Newchurch, managed entirely for wildlife. 

The purchase of Morton Marsh marked an important step in the Trust's mission to create connected habitats on the Isle of Wight where wildlife can thrive. This is a fantastic example of work the Trust has done to improve a reserve for wildlife, with the addition of wetland scrapes and ditch restorations.

This wetland pasture site is home to large numbers and a variety of wetland birds, including lapwing, snipe and common sandpiper, which in turn attract visits from the impressive marsh harrier. A specially constructed sand martin bank provides a breeding habitat for these energetic summer migrants and the recent addition of a viewing platform helps visitors get good views of the wildlife without disturbance. A variety of farmland bird species also  thrive on the site, including Cetti’s, reed and sedge warblers, and stunning views of barn owl and short-eared owl can be seen soaring over the marshes.

Special features: 

• In the winter, witness the sights and sounds of the ducks that migrate south from their summer breeding grounds. Watch the diminutive yet beautiful teal and listen to the soothing whistle of wigeon.
• During the summer months look out for kingfisher and listen for the explosive call of the Cetti’s warbler amongst the reeds whilst watching the sand martin hunt across the site.
• Southern marsh orchid, black sedge, marsh skullcap and the rare slender tufted sedge flourish  in the nutrient-rich soil, while water voles scurry amid the reeds.