Men from the Depot won medals for defusing enemy mines and handling dangerous ammunition for the Navy at nearby Parkeston Quay.

The reserve is an important wildlife site - owls, yellowhammers, whitethroats, turtle doves, song thrushes, nightingales and bullfinches can be seen.

There are also many wild plants such as corn mint, hairy buttercup, sea aster and ox-eye daisy.

In 2015 a conceptual holiday home was created by the artist Grayson Perry, working with FAT, and commissioned by the charity Living Architecture.

The house is highly decorated incorporating rooftop ornaments, and overlooks the River Stour near the village.