Established during the late 1990s and spanning 27 hectares, Bleadon Levels nature reserve provides a range of mainly wetland habitats for wildlife including saltmarsh and tidal creek habitat as well as glassland, reed bed and open freshwater lagoons.
Called a managed retreat, the saltmarsh is farmland given back to nature. After building a new sea defence wall, the old one was breached, letting in saltwater at high tides and allowing specialist salt-loving plants to establish. The marsh is an important part of flood defence reducing the power of incoming high tides during storms.