1. Home
  2. England
  3. Kent
  4. Kent
  5. Swale
  6. Bedlams Bottom

Bedlams Bottom

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Kent Swale

England

Bedlams Bottom

Pylon on Chetney Marsh The pylons march north across the marsh to take power across the Medway at <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/39424">TQ8772 : Medway Cable Tunnel South Pylon</a>. The body of water pictured here looks, from the map, to have been a tidal creek before the sea wall was built.
Pylon on Chetney Marsh Credit: Penny Mayes

Bedlams Bottom is a picturesque coastal marsh and salt marsh located in Kent, England. Situated near the town of Sandwich, it covers an area of approximately 50 hectares and is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife.

The marshland is characterized by its flat and open landscape, with a mix of mudflats, salt marshes, and reed beds. It is intersected by several small tidal creeks that contribute to the overall charm of the area. The marshes are regularly flooded by the tides, creating a dynamic ecosystem that supports a wide range of plant and animal species.

The vegetation found in Bedlams Bottom includes various salt-tolerant plants such as samphire, sea lavender, and sea aster. These plants provide food and shelter for numerous bird species, including waders like redshanks, avocets, and curlews. The area is also a haven for migrating birds, with many species stopping here during their journeys.

In addition to its avian inhabitants, Bedlams Bottom is home to a variety of mammals, reptiles, and insects. Visitors may spot marsh harriers soaring above, while Eurasian otters can occasionally be seen swimming in the creeks. The marshes also support a diverse range of invertebrates, including butterflies, dragonflies, and various species of beetles.

Bedlams Bottom offers fantastic opportunities for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and photographers to appreciate the beauty of a coastal marshland. With its tranquil setting, abundant wildlife, and stunning vistas, it truly is a hidden gem along the Kent coastline.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Bedlams Bottom Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.387094/0.70695868 or Grid Reference TQ8868. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Pylon on Chetney Marsh The pylons march north across the marsh to take power across the Medway at <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/39424">TQ8772 : Medway Cable Tunnel South Pylon</a>. The body of water pictured here looks, from the map, to have been a tidal creek before the sea wall was built.
Pylon on Chetney Marsh
The pylons march north across the marsh to take power across the Medway at TQ8772 : Medway Cable Tunnel South Pylon. The body of water pictured here looks, from the map, to have been a tidal creek before the sea wall was built.
Shooting party on Chetney Marsh Moving off to try their luck on another part of the marsh.
Shooting party on Chetney Marsh
Moving off to try their luck on another part of the marsh.
Causeway and dyke, Chetney Marsh The causeway carries the Saxon Shore Way which does not follow the shoreline right round the northern end of the peninsula but cuts across to the Old Counter Wall (an earlier sea wall) instead.
Causeway and dyke, Chetney Marsh
The causeway carries the Saxon Shore Way which does not follow the shoreline right round the northern end of the peninsula but cuts across to the Old Counter Wall (an earlier sea wall) instead.
The importance of the sea wall The full moon soon after the equinox brings a very high spring tide. Fortunately it has no wind behind it and the sea wall is doing its job, protecting the coastal grazing marshes on the right; an important habitat for wildlife and flora. Parts of Chetney Marshes have been returned to grazing from arable in order to replace similar land lost to the improved A249 and new Sheppey Bridge (seen in the background).
The importance of the sea wall
The full moon soon after the equinox brings a very high spring tide. Fortunately it has no wind behind it and the sea wall is doing its job, protecting the coastal grazing marshes on the right; an important habitat for wildlife and flora. Parts of Chetney Marshes have been returned to grazing from arable in order to replace similar land lost to the improved A249 and new Sheppey Bridge (seen in the background).
Dead rabbit On the sea wall. There are many rabbits living along the sea wall, their burrowing seems to be causing some damage <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/256060">TQ8970 : Rabbit burrows</a>.
Dead rabbit
On the sea wall. There are many rabbits living along the sea wall, their burrowing seems to be causing some damage TQ8970 : Rabbit burrows.
Rabbit burrows These burrows in the landward side of the sea wall seem to be causing some slippage of the topsoil.
Rabbit burrows
These burrows in the landward side of the sea wall seem to be causing some slippage of the topsoil.
We have lift off! Swans taking off from a lagoon on Chetney Marsh. I think these are the common mute swans but Bewicks have been seen hereabouts. Chetney Marsh is an important habitat for wildlife and flora.
We have lift off!
Swans taking off from a lagoon on Chetney Marsh. I think these are the common mute swans but Bewicks have been seen hereabouts. Chetney Marsh is an important habitat for wildlife and flora.
Tiny mushrooms Growing on the sea wall. You may judge their size by comparing with the rabbit droppings.
Tiny mushrooms
Growing on the sea wall. You may judge their size by comparing with the rabbit droppings.
Farm Track on Chetney Marsh On the skyline is Grain Power Station and Thamesport Container Terminal
Farm Track on Chetney Marsh
On the skyline is Grain Power Station and Thamesport Container Terminal
Drainage Channel on Chetney Marsh Grain Power Station and Thamesport Container Terminal are visible on the horizon.
Drainage Channel on Chetney Marsh
Grain Power Station and Thamesport Container Terminal are visible on the horizon.
Farm Track on Chetney Marsh Looking North East towards the Isle of Sheppey. The marsh is a bird reserve. If you visit here, please take care not to disturb the birds, and keep dogs on leads.
Farm Track on Chetney Marsh
Looking North East towards the Isle of Sheppey. The marsh is a bird reserve. If you visit here, please take care not to disturb the birds, and keep dogs on leads.
Saxon Shore Way, Chetney Marsh This is the point where the Saxon Shore Way (the green path) crosses a tarmac farm track (which is marked as a Byway on the OS map). The Marsh is a bird reserve. If you visit here, please take care not to disturb the birds and keep dogs on leads at all times.
Saxon Shore Way, Chetney Marsh
This is the point where the Saxon Shore Way (the green path) crosses a tarmac farm track (which is marked as a Byway on the OS map). The Marsh is a bird reserve. If you visit here, please take care not to disturb the birds and keep dogs on leads at all times.
Chetney Marsh - end of the public footpath At the time of writing (9 Apr 2009) there are 4 "green" squares on Chetney Marsh that can't be visited without disobeying this notice!
Chetney Marsh - end of the public footpath
At the time of writing (9 Apr 2009) there are 4 "green" squares on Chetney Marsh that can't be visited without disobeying this notice!
Part of the Chetney Marshes
Part of the Chetney Marshes
Saxon Shore Way along Horse Reach The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in the Roman times as far as Hastings in East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence. The Way takes its name, The Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd Century AD.
Saxon Shore Way along Horse Reach
The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in the Roman times as far as Hastings in East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence. The Way takes its name, The Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd Century AD.
Saxon Shore Way, Long Reach The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in the Roman times as far as Hastings in East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence. The Way takes its name, The Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd Century AD.
Saxon Shore Way, Long Reach
The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in the Roman times as far as Hastings in East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total. The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended. It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence. The Way takes its name, The Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd Century AD.
Salt marsh by The Swale The Swale is a strip of sea that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the mainland of Kent. It is an important wildlife location and is both a Nature reserve and Special protection area. It is also an important channel for shipping. Wikipedia: <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swale" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swale">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Salt marsh by The Swale
The Swale is a strip of sea that separates the Isle of Sheppey from the mainland of Kent. It is an important wildlife location and is both a Nature reserve and Special protection area. It is also an important channel for shipping. Wikipedia: LinkExternal link
Chetney Marshes
Chetney Marshes
Show me another place!

Bedlams Bottom is located at Grid Ref: TQ8868 (Lat: 51.387094, Lng: 0.70695868)

Administrative County: Kent

District: Swale

Police Authority: Kent

What 3 Words

///blogging.merit.gracing. Near Iwade, Kent

Nearby Locations

Bedlams Bottom

Related Wikis

Funton
Funton

Funton is a location in Kent, United Kingdom. It is a creek situated on the edge of the North Kent Marshes on the right bank of the River Medway about...

Chetney Hill
Chetney Hill

Chetney Hill was a planned lazaret on the banks of the River Medway estuary in Kent. Inspired by European ports such as Marseille and Venice, it was intended...

Iwade
Iwade

Iwade is a village and civil parish 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the town of Sittingbourne in the English county of Kent. == History == Iwade was established...

Swale railway station
Swale railway station

Swale railway station is in north Kent, England, on the Sheerness Line 47 miles 15 chains (75.9 km) from London Victoria, at the southern end of the Kingsferry...

Upchurch Hoard
Upchurch Hoard

The Upchurch Hoard was a pot containing thirty-seven Roman sestertii dating from the late 1st century to the second half of the 2nd century AD found near...

Ridham Dock
Ridham Dock

Ridham Dock is a dock on The Swale in the English county of Kent. It is located in the parish of Iwade around 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Sittingbourne....

Lower Halstow
Lower Halstow

Lower Halstow is a village and civil parish in the Swale district of Kent, England. The village is northwest of Sittingbourne on the banks of the Medway...

Kingsferry Bridge
Kingsferry Bridge

The Kingsferry Bridge is a combined road and railway vertical-lift bridge which connects the Isle of Sheppey to mainland Kent in South East England. The...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.387094,0.70695868
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.
Horseshoe Point Kent
Chetney Marshes Kent

Have you been to Bedlams Bottom?

Leave your review of Bedlams Bottom below (or comments, questions and feedback).

© 2024 UK Place Database | Privacy