Rammey Marsh

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Coordinates: 51°40′32″N 0°00′58″W / 51.6755°N 0.0161°W / 51.6755; -0.0161
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rammey Marsh looking north

Rammey Marsh is located in the Lee Valley Park at Enfield Lock, Enfield, England, and covers approximately 42 hectares (100 acres). The site is owned and managed by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.[1]

Location

The site is bounded by the

Lee Valley railway line, its eastern boundary is formed by the Lee Navigation while Smeaton Road forms the southern boundary. Flowing under the M25 the Small River Lea
enters the site for a short distance before flowing under the A1055 road.

The marsh at its southern edge

Etymology

Rammey Marsh is marked thus on the Ordnance Survey map of 1887, named from Ramhey 1538, Rammey 1610, probably 'island (of dry ground in marsh) where rams are pastured', from Old English ramm and ēg.[2]

History

Rammey Marsh was once part of an extensive

gravel extraction. The resulting flooded gravel pits were used for landfill
which raised the profile of the site.

On completion of the A1055 road in the late 20th century, the marsh was bisected from north to south. To the west of the road which approximately follows the course of the Small River Lea was the site of the former Rammey Marsh Sewage Treatment Works. Today, the site is the home to the Innova Business and Science Park,

Oasis Academy School, hotel, housing and Rammey Marsh lake a former gravel pit 51°40′22″N 0°01′13″W / 51.6729°N 0.0202°W / 51.6729; -0.0202[3] which has matured into a conservation area and fishery.[4]

Description

A dry ditch which was a channel of the Small River Lea splits the site into two distinct areas, with the south being mixed

chalk grassland.[5]

Wildlife

Some 225 plant species are present on the site, including

pipistrelle bats. The Small River Lea provides an important habitat for the water vole[1]

Projects

Attempts to construct two ponds were unsuccessful due to ground contamination. Additional projects include the building of amphibian and reptile refuges using soil and rubble and plans to re-work the banks of the central ditch to improve the habitat for water voles and other animals during the winter of 2010/11.[1]

Public transport

Rail

Enfield Lock

Bus

121

491

Public access

Car parking is available at Smeaton Road. Pedestrian and cycle access is found at various points around the site. The

Lee Valley Walk
lies on the marsh's eastern fringe.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Rammey Marsh Retrieved 9 January 2012
  2. ISBN 0-19-860957-4
    Retrieved 12 January 2012
  3. ^ Rammey Marsh lake Archived 5 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13 January 2012
  4. ^ Innova Business Park Retrieved 13 January 2012
  5. ^ Enfield Lock conservation group Archived 21 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 16 January 2012

51°40′32″N 0°00′58″W / 51.6755°N 0.0161°W / 51.6755; -0.0161

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