Huttoft Bank Pit
Parish: Huttoft
OS: 122 • GR: TF 536793 • Map ref: 44
4.00 hectares (10.10acres) • Freehold 1959
Habitat type: Marsh/Wetland
Location and Access
The pit is situated on the west side of the sea bank road, about 1.6 km (1 mile) south of Sandilands. There is parking further south at the Huttoft Car Terrace, from where it is about a 0.8-km (0.5-mile) walk to the reserve. There is also room for two cars on the verge near the reserve entrance (opposite the public footpath sign on the sea bank). Cross the footbridge over the dyke and follow the fieldside track to the a hide situated on the bank. Visitors are advised that they should not walk round the pit. The track is unsuitable for people with walking disabilities.
Description and Management
This is the largest of the Sea Bank Clay Pits, which provided clay for sea bank repairs after the 1953 floods. There is a large open water area as well as extensive reedbeds. Emergent and aquatic vegetation includes species such as fennel pondweed, sea club-rush, great reedmace, brackish water-crowfoot, soft hornwort and yellow flag.
Moorhen, water rail, reed bunting, reed and sedge warblers all nest on the reserve. Fifteen species of duck have been recorded, mainly during the winter, and Bewick's swan, slavonian, great crested, little and red-necked grebes, and red-throated diver have all been recorded. Rare migrants have included spoonbill, great reed warbler, little bittern and many others. Wading birds occur, especially in autumn (dependent on late summer/autumn water levels), including common, green and curlew sandpipers, redshank and greenshank, and black-tailed godwit. Scarce visitors have included lesser yellowlegs and pectoral sandpiper. Herons are occasional visitors, and flocks of gulls also occur occasionally, including the Mediterranean gull. Various terns occur on passage. Short-eared owls occur in winter and marsh harriers breed in spring. Bitterns have become a regular wintering species.
Management includes planting willow screens, cutting selected areas of reed and the creation of a new hedge alongside the access track.
