Field Trip to Romney Marsh - Coursework Example

Ecology Report of Field Trip to Romney Marsh: Evolution of a landscape over 2000 years. A Marsh is a wetland region forming a transition zone between water and ground, often at the doorway of rivers, next to ponds and lakes, with soils that are saturated with water for most of the time. They are characterized for having a poor natural drainage, inappropriate for agriculture and often distinguished for grassy vegetation (Neufeldt, V. et al., 1994; Morgan, 1955). In contrast, Burt (2007) emphasizes their importance as great resources for wild life, fishes and shellfish. In the South East of England, in the counties of Kent (known as the garden of England) and East Sussex, there is a lightly over-populated wet area, of about 100 square miles (260 km2), flat and low-lying triangular shape land, with parts below the level of sea and known as the Romney Marsh, the third largest coastland in Britain (Long, 2002; Romney Marsh, Wikipedia). Romney Marsh History If we consider its development during the last centuries, we realize the great influence of the agricultural practices over its evolution, as well as the natural forces of nature. Severe oscillations of land level, alluviums, tidal erosion, artificial ditch systems, drainage of the marshlands, agricultural practices with poor human land use as well as productive use of the region have been affecting the shape and condition of Romney Marsh, in a period that goes to at least 10.000 years ago (Villagenet Local History, 2007). From the Mesolithic Period to the Norman Age From the Mesolithic (8300 – 5500 BC) to the Iron Age (800 BC to AD 42) the Romney Marsh was lightly inhabited, with a population that subsisted mostly from the natural resources of the wetland, including fish, birds, plant harvest, and with some farm animal management occurring at the end of the Neolithic period (5500-2300 BC). The Bronze Age (2300-800 BC) and the Iron Age (800 BC to AD 42) brought better cultural practices, with iron tools, and clearance of woodland for cultivation in the margins of Romney Marsh. The Roman (AD 43-409), Saxon (AD 410-1065), and Norman Period (AD 1066-1215) lead to a continuous reclamation of the Marsh, Salt-marshes, tidal creek, and a shrink inter-tidal drainage. Prosper agriculture followed by a drop off at the end of Roman Empire were followed for a better economic use of the Marshlands, with maritime trade and political associations with continental Europe during the Norman Period (Timeline for Romney Marsh, online web site). Medieval and Tudor Romney Marsh At early medieval times, during the 13th – 14th century AD, an artificial ditch system and river (Rhee) was built. With the help of natural streams and the existing tidal, good agricultural practices were developed. The Rhee Wall was built as a watercourse, with pipes that controlled the flow of water from Appledore to New Romney. The controlled irrigation and drainage of the farmland when necessary, allowed the farmers to cultivate cereals and other crops, as well as to feed pigs, cattle and sheep. In addition, the rich natural wasteland resources were maximized with the use of manure. Unfortunately, the XV century brought several strong storms and damaging flooding, the wall and the harbour were destroyed, together with a breakdown of Rye Bay barrier and the destruction of old Winchelsea as well. The Black Death cut the population in about a half, and with not enough manual labor to repair the walls and to make efficient drainages, the land use shifted from arable to pastoral farming (Timeline for Romney Marsh, online web site; Romney Marsh, wikipedia). The high expense of keeping good sea defenses against the severe flooding brought the need for accurate financial records, the so-called wall Scots. The politics of the period, plus the need of accurate accounts, characterize The Tudor period (AD 1485-1602) for the splitting up of large states, with a growing population that mainly farmed less than 50 acres (72%) and a smaller group of farmers (37%) with fewer than 20 acres. (Late Medieval and Tudor Romney Marsh, online web site). 18th to 21st centuries The agricultural practices in the next centuries were highly emphasized by the sheep farming and good pasture management, with a continuous reclamation and sea wall construction, leaving a better stabilization of the sea walls at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition, the Napoleonic war (1804-15), brought the construction of the Royal Military Canal, as a defense against France. This canal separated Romney Marsh from the rest of England, running from Hythe in Kent to Rye in East Sussex. Its construction was highly advantageous for land drainage and remains till today as an important flood structure and Reservoir for Romney Marsh. The 20th century is politically characterized for the WWI and WWII, and since then, the economy of Romney Marsh has suffered a positive shift on its agricultural management, from shepherding to modern farming practices, and a bigger size of the farms. The stabilization of the seashore and seawalls, together with a better protected shoreline has brought a bigger impact on the agriculture as well as in the economy of the region. Currently, fewer people work in agriculture, but its productivity has greatly increased thanks to the use of better cultural practices, good drainage systems, embarking of rivers to prevent flooding, gravel extraction, and the benefit of tourism with a nice environmental impact on the Marsh. Final Thoughts The trip will focus in “Fairfield”, to explore the flooded countryside together with the medieval Fairfield church, a magnificent building with its original 18th century tombs. “Dungeness”, one of the largest areas of shingles in Europe, with 5000 years of history on its formation. Following by “Rye Harbour”, with its extraordinary diversity of habitats beside the sea, with gravel and stones, salt Marsh, sandbank, rivers, and rock bottom. In addition to, on the edge of Romney Marsh, the town of “West Hythe”, one of the famous Cinque Ports, with an attractive medieval town, Royal Military Canal by English Heritage, and history at every single place of it. A trip for going back in history as well as being immensely delighted with the beauty of natural landscapes and the impressive diversity of ecotypes living in and close to the surrounding areas of Romney Marsh. REFERENCES Burt, W. 2007. Marshes. Copyright © 2007 by William Burt. Published by assistance from the foundation established in memory of Phillip Hamilton McMillan of the Class of 1984, Yale College. Printed in Italy by Eurographica SPA. 179 pages. Long, A., Hipkin, S., and Clarke, H. 2002. Romney Marsh: Coastal and Landscape Change Through the Ages. (eds.) Antony Long, Stephen Hipkin, and Helen Clarke. Publisher by University of Oxford, Committee for Archaeolo (November 2002). Published in Great Britain. 215 pages. Morgan, Sally. 1995. Ecology and environment. The cycles of life. Oxford University Press. ©copyright Andromeda Oxford Ltd. 1995. Text pages 16-47 © copyright Helicon Ltd., adapted by Andromeda Oxford Ltd. Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press, Inc. Printed in Spain by Graficromo SA, Cordoba. 160 pages. Neufeldt, V. & Guralnik, D. B. 1994. Webster’s new world dictionary of American English. Third college edition. Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in chief. David B. Guralnik, Editor in chief emeritus. Copyright © 1994, 1991, 1988 by Simon & Shuster, Inc. Prentice Hall, New York. 1574 pages. Romney Marsh. 2007. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Last modified 30 April 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007, from http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney_Marsh Timeline for Romney Marsh. Online web information. Retrieved on 11 May 2007, from http://www.liv.ac.uk/geography/RomneyMarsh/RM%20Hum%20and%20 Nat.EarlyMedieval.htm Villagenet Local History. 2007. Copyight © Villagenet 2000. Updated 12 January 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007, from http://www.villagenet.co.uk/history/0000_romneyMarsh.html Read More