Doxey Marshes is a 150 hectares (370 acres) nature reserve[1] located within two miles of Stafford town centre, and is managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

The habitat is one of the most threatened nationally, along with related wildlife such as snipe, lapwing, little ringed plover, otter and water shrew.

[1] Wading birds love the shallow pools and muddy edges this flooding leaves behind as a source of food.

Grazing throughout the summer is a very traditional way of managing wet grassland and keeps the grass short enough for ground nesting birds to keep a look out for predators.

Cattle numbers are monitored to avoid trampling of eggs and nests early on in the breeding season.