Virtual Field Trips
Dell Quay to Fishbourne
9. Reeds
Walking quietly with the reeds towering above you, listening to the gentle rustle in the wind and hearing the reed warblers sing is wonderful.
Towering Reeds
Towering Reeds
Reeds can grow up to two metres tall and are Britain's tallest grass. The fresh water of the streams flows out through the reed beds and sea water fills the channels at high tide. Most plants would not be able to cope with the constantly changing salt and fresh water but reeds can.
Island of reeds
Reed Beds
The reeds grow at the head of the channel where their roots are in water but their stems are dry. They form islands of vegetation with water channels in between
Find out more about reeds.
Find out more about common reeds.
Walking through the reed beds
Walking through the reeds
Those keen to walk at the front on a field trip stand the chance of seeing the electric blue flash of a kingfisher as it darts off down the channel between the clumps of reeds.
Stonechat
Wildlife
The channels also provide shelter for young fish and water voles. Reed and sedge warblers migrate here in the summer and build their nests in the reeds. They feed themselves and their young on the abundant supply of insects and then fly further south during the winter to where it is warmer. Other birds such as stonechats use the reedbeds in the winter. Stonechats usually nest in areas of heathland but sometimes move to the coast in the winter in order to find food and shelter.
Reed beds at hight tide
High Tide
At the highest tides the paths and bridges become flooded. This can make the bridges very slippery as the tide goes down. If the tide is coming in and you walk through the reed beds and out onto the wall the other side, do not linger as it is possible to get cut off from the pond. It is a long walk across the fields and by road to get back to the pond, so take care!
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