 Today , Brandon Marsh is a mixture of flooded gravel pits , fen , scrubland , reedbeds and woodland , much of which is uncommon habitat for the local area . The site is particularly important for birdlife , with a wide range of breeding and wintering birds — 234 different species had been recorded up to the end of 2014 . The reserve also supports a variety of mammals and insects , over 500 species of plant , and more than 570 species of fungi . The nature reserve and Visitor Centre are open to the public seven days a week . 
