The land was reclaimed from the sea for agricultural use at the end of the 19th Century. Today, grazing, haymaking and cutting rough vegetation encourage flowers and wetland birds.
Currently, visitor access is restricted to a network of footpaths from Brading Town and Bembridge Harbour, which provide attractive views across the reserve's mix of wetlands. There is much work planned to develop the reserve over future years.
The RSPBBradingMarshesnature reserve is the first RSPB reserve on the Isle of Wight.
Situated on the reclaimed land of the old harbour, behind the present-day Bembridge Harbour, it was bought in 2001 and is a mix of lagoons and ditches, reed beds and meadows, with a fringe of ancient woodland.
Brading is served by Brading railway station on the Island Line Railway with direct connection to the Wightlink ferry at Ryde Pier Head and stops at Ryde, Smallbrook, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin.