SINGLERS MARSH LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

Management Plan 2014 -2024

(JUNE 2014)

SINGLERS MARSH, WELWYN, HERTFORDSHIRE

Management Plan

Section 1 DESCRIPTION 1

1.1 Name of Site 1

1.2 Location 1

1.3 Tenure 1

1.4 Legal Constraints 1

1.5 Physical Description 2

1.6 Ecological Description 2

1.7 Site History 5

1.8 Present Use 6

Section 2 EVALUATION 6

2.1 Wildlife Value 7

2.2. Amenity Value 7

2.3. Educational Value 7

2.4 Site Potential 7

2.5 The Role of Countryside Stewardship 8

Section 3 FUTURE MANAGEMENT 8

3.1 Objectives of Future Management 8

3.2 Management Proposals 8

3.3 Getting the work done 10

3.4 Community Involvement 10

Section 4 ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 11

Section 5 SITE MONITORING & REVIEW 12

5.1 Annual Monitoring 12

5.2 Plan Review 12

Section 6 Maps

Section 1 DESCRIPTION

1.1 Name of Site

Singlers Marsh Local Nature Reserve

1.2 Location

Singlers Marsh is located to the immediate north of the village of Welwyn. A little more than three quarters of the site lies within the area administered by Council in central Hertfordshire, the remainder being within District Council’s area. The site’s eastern boundary is formed by the River Mimram and by enclosed private gardens along the B656 road between Welwyn and . On the west side are public roads with more residential properties.

To the east of the site beyond the Codicote Road is Danesbury Local Nature Reserve, also owned by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. To the west, beyond adjacent housing, is open farmland, mostly arable but including grazing meadows and carr woodland adjacent to the River Mimram.

A location map is included in Appendix 1. The centre of the site lies at Ordnance Survey grid reference TL 228166.

1.3 Tenure and Access

The site is owned by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. Singlers Marsh was part of the estate of Welwyn Rural Council transferred to Welwyn Hatfield Council on its formation in 1974.

There are no public rights of way but the public have unrestricted access on foot throughout the site. Access to the site is by kissing gates at several points along the western boundary. Although post-and-rail fencing now divides the site, a kissing gate allows free access to each part. The kissing gates were designed to allow access by push-chair and small childrens’ bicycles, but to prevent access by larger (motor) bicyles and horses. There is also field-gate access to each half of the site.

Affinity Water has access via gates and concrete roads to two pumping stations located on the site.

1.4 Legal Constraints

Singlers Marsh was declared as a Local Nature Reserve by means of a joint agreement between the borough council and Natural in May 2009. ‘Local Nature Reserve’ (or LNR) is a statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, and amended by Schedule 11 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Singlers Marsh / Fulling Mill Meadow was designated Local Wildlife Site in 1997 at the time of the Hertfordshire Habitat Survey completed in 1999. This status gives a measure of protection from development, as does its location within a flood plain.

Conservation management on the nature reserve has been supported since 1994 by Countryside Stewardship grant schemes in agreement with Natural England. Each grant scheme operates for a ten-year period, so the council’s agreement was renewed in October

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2003 and again in October 2013 when the council entered the Higher Level Stewardship scheme.

Most fences and access points are maintained by the Borough Council, except for those surrounding the pumping stations which are the responsibility of Affinity Water.

1.5 Physical Description

Singlers Marsh is a long, narrow site extending to almost 700m in length but measuring no more than about 140m across the widest point. The land narrows at each end. In all, the site extends to 4.7 hectares and lies at a general elevation of 70m above sea level.

The underlying geology is derived from the chalk overlain by various neutral to slightly acidic clays and gravels. The land slopes gradually from the western side of the site towards the river.

The site is aligned north-west to south-east with the River Mimram forming the major boundary along the eastern side. The southern two-thirds of the area is bisected longitudinally by a seasonal stream fed by a spring arising in the northern part of the site. In times of heavy rainfall, the north end of the reserve is often flooded as a result of high ground water levels rather than directly from the river overflow. Flooding may also be due to impoundment of water caused by the artificial raising of land levels in the southern half of the site.

The southern half of Singlers Marsh is separated from the northern half by post-and-rail fencing erected prior to the commencement of grazing in 1995. It is maintained for public amenity being regularly mown to keep the grassland short. The northern half is grazed by cattle in late summer/autumn. This provides the reserve with a more characteristic and ‘natural’ pasture habitat. The northernmost part of the site comprises a small area separated from the remainder by land occupied by a pumping station. It is a relatively quiet backwater of the river supplied with water diverted through the former Fulling Mill.

Boundaries are fenced or hedged. The whole site is well endowed with natural cover provided by clumps of mixed scrub and the numerous large willow trees are a conspicuous feature.

Singlers Marsh may be divided into compartments which are readily identified on site and shown on the map at Appendix 2:

Compartment 1: the smallest compartment lying north of Fulling Mill Pumping Station and comprising a short section of river joined to the millstream connected by a small peninsular.

Compartment 2: an old grazing pasture south of the pumping station as far as an old hedge boundary, separating it from the next field.

Compartment 3: this comprises the land south of the old hedgerow and north of the post- and-rail fencing separating the site. It contains the majority of the willows.

Compartment 4: the whole of the area south of the post-and-rail fencing, mown for amenity use.

1.6 Ecological Description Several main wildlife habitats may be recognised on the site. They are described below and shown on the map at Appendix 3, originally provided by the Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre. The habitats are as follows:

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 stands of willow trees  mixed scrub, hedgerows and other trees  species-rich neutral grassland  species-poor rank grassland  mown secondary grassland  wet grassland and marsh  temporary standing water  permanent flowing water

1.6.1 Willow trees

Crack Willows Salix fragilis were probably planted as an early attempt to dry out the areas prone to flooding. They can be found throughout the reserve, but mostly along the central stream course. A substantial line of crack willows is situated in the northern half of the Marsh. All are now of similar age and some have begun to break apart. This is natural growth behaviour of Crack Willows in flood-plain habitats. Fallen trees root into the ground, throw out new vertical stems and develop into new trees. In totally natural riverine woodland sites which are rare in Britain, this pattern of growth will alter watercourses and perpetuate a floodplain habitat.

During the last 10-12 years however, several small groups of willows have been pollarded as part of a programme supported by the Countryside Stewardship grant scheme. Three mature crack willows were pollarded as part of health and safety works in 2012 and two more very mature crack willows growing adjacent to the river were reduced in height in Spring 2013 as part of the suite of works funded by Natural England via the Lea Catchment Nature Improvement Area and management undertaken by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

Sallow Salix cinerea and Osier Salix viminalis grow with the crack willows along the seasonal water course flowing through the centre of the reserve. More unusual Salix species can also be found here including Shining Willow Salix lucida. Many of the bushes are now mature and have begun to fall out into adjacent grassland. A project to reclaim the grassland margins and regenerate the willows as younger coppice was begun in 2012 (see 3.2.3 below). Significant areas have now been cut and cleared, especially along the course of the seasonal stream.

Ground vegetation beneath the willows is dominated almost entirely by nettles. Several of the older trees support good colonies of lichens and mosses.

1.6.2 Mixed scrub, hedgerows and other trees

The scrub communities on the site are an important habitat for a wide range of wildlife, especially birds and insects. There are blackthorn thickets, clumps of bramble, and mixed aged scrub comprising hawthorn, field maple, elder and hazel. A few dead and dying elms remain in the roadside hedgerows and next to the river.

Some of the clumps of scrub derive from old hedgerows formerly dividing the site into small fields. A new hedge was planted by Friends of the River Mimram around the fenced boundary of the central pumping station in 2011, using a hedgerow mixture supplied freely by the Woodland Trust. Some of the species included, for example, silver birch, are not characteristic of lowland wet meadow and may fail in due course. Consideration should be given to laying the hedge towards the end of the plan. This will provide thicker habitat for nesting birds and help to maintain the hedge at a moderate height.

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A large oak tree can be found at the far northern end, on the peninsular of land between the river and the millstream. Another oak can also be found in Compartment 3. There are a few planted alder along the river and stream in Compartment 4.

Ash, sycamore and another oak grow on the eastern road bank of the river along with clumps of scrub. In some places, scrub growth had extended out over the river, providing good wildlife cover but suppressing marginal or emergent vegetation in the river. Significant sections of scrub on both east and west banks of the river were coppiced as part of the Beane & Mimram Partnership project in 2012/13.

1.6.3 Species-rich neutral grassland

Neutral grassland is the most common kind to be found in lowland wet meadows, being developed from soils which are neither very acid nor very alkaline.

At Singlers Marsh, very little of the more botanically varied grassland remains, probably because of the lack of consistent grazing management after the second world war. However, one or two small areas can be found principally on the drier ground along the western margins. Species include Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum, Common Woodrush Luzula campestris, Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys, Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa, Bird’s Foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus and Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea. In some years, a few plants of the less common Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata come into flower. This species is a good indicator of old established grassland, as is a small colony of Bistort Polygonum bistorta.

During the growing seasons of 2011 and 2012, much of this more varied grassland habitat was prevented from flowering by a monthly mowing regime to control nettle growth.

1.6.4 Species-poor rank grassland

Rank grassland is an informal term given to grassland which has not been cut or grazed for several years or has been mechanically disturbed or subject to dumping by material such as river dredgings.

Some of the grassland within the grazing meadow falls into this category, being composed mainly of Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus, False Oat Arrhenatherum elatius and stands of Nettle Urtica dioica .

1.6.5 Mown secondary grassland

This habitat extends over much of the southern half of the site on artificially raised ground managed by regular mowing. The sward is generally lacking in variety, although can look attractive in spring before mowing commences with Common Daisy Bellis perennis, Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens and Germander Speedwell forming carpets of cheerful colour.

In some areas, common knapweed Centaurea nigra and other species would flower if not cut.

1.6.6 Wet grassland and marsh

Marshy vegetation can be found next to the river at the northern part of the nature reserve. This area has been subject to periodic flooding as well as the former spreading of river dredgings and is dominated almost entirely by Lesser Pond Sedge Carex acutiformis, Reed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinacea, Reed Sweet-grass Glyceria maxima, Russian comfrey

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Symphytum x uplandicum and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense. Depending upon the timing of grazing or cutting, other wetland species such as Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria and Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea can occasionally occur.

Recent grazing has helped to reduce the vigour of this vegetation and improve botanical diversity.

1.6.7 Temporary standing water

It is likely that Singlers Marsh has flooded on a regular basis especially since the land on the southern part of the site was raised by infilling. This flooding occurs as a result of a high water table and was most extensive recently in the winter of 2000/2001 after high and continuous rainfall during the previous autumn. Flooding occurred again in early 2013 and in January/February 2014.

Standing water occurs mostly in the northern part of the reserve, for example beneath the stands of Crack Willows and in the area south of the northern pumping station. It provides important temporary refuge for waterbirds such as Coot, Moorhen and Mallard. Where disturbance from people and uncontrolled dogs is not too severe, occasional wading birds take advantage of areas of soft mud as the water recedes to probe for soil invertebrates.

In a wet winter, standing water also remains along the former river course through Compartment 3 and to the far southern end of Compartment 4

1.6.8 Permanent flowing water

At Singlers Marsh the most important flowing water habitat is the River Mimram. It is at its best and least disturbed at the far northern end in Compartment 1. Further south, the course of the river has been straightened. Sections of the river bed are obscured by layers of silt, accumulated in years when flows have been too low to maintain a clean river bed with chalk-stream characteristics. Until 2013, the river had no appreciable gravel bed and therefore lacked any spawning habitat for fish.

Clean chalk streams can support a wide range of aquatic species including submergent and emergent plants, fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals. Many of these are now rare, including wild trout, otter, water vole and freshwater crayfish. Water voles still occur from time to time at Singlers Marsh, but breeding is unlikely.

However, the Mimram at Singlers Marsh has been damaged by years of low flows, too regular dredging and loss of stable bank-side vegetation.

Recent work by the Beane & Mimram Partenership project supported by Natural England and the Environment Agency has begun to address some of these issues. (see below)

1.7 Site History

At the present time, very little is accurately known about the past history of Singlers Marsh. It is likely that it was always damp marshy pasture, grazed sporadically by cattle during late summer.

The land was acquired by Welwyn Rural Council in the late 1960s. At the time of local government re-organisation in 1974, the land passed to Welwyn Hatfield Council. However, during the ownership of Welwyn Rural Council, the Link Road was constructed and much of the excavated material dumped on the southern portion of Singlers Marsh (Compartment 4),

5 dramatically altering its visual appearance and considerably damaging its ecological value as a wetland habitat. This now levelled and seeded area became used for local amenity.

Compartments 2 and 3 were left unmanaged apart from the dredging activities by the local drainage board. The dumped and dredged material was much richer in plant nutrients than the original soil and the leaching of these nutrients especially following periodic inundation, has led to nutrient enrichment over much of the site. Species such as nettles and thistles, which thrive on nitrogen, have gradually invaded. [In more recent drier springs, these more aggressive and drought-tolerant species have become dominant at the expense of the gradually improving and more diverse damp meadow grassland habitat.]

In 1994, Welwyn Hatfield Council sought advice on the management of the site from the Hertfordshire Biological Record Centre, who recommended that grazing be resumed in order to help restore some of the biological importance of the site. Local amenity and wildlife groups were also consulted. Later in 1994, the Council agreed the details of a management regime for Singlers Marsh with the (then) Countryside Commission (now Natural England). Grant aid under the Countryside Stewardship scheme was offered and accepted for fencing to allow grazing by cattle to take place with the main objective being the improvement of wildlife diversity, and for access improvements to allow continued public enjoyment. In early 1995, the Council’s Environment Committee approved the proposed management regime and supported the resumption of summer and autumn grazing on the northern part of the site.

Grazing with rare breed cattle has continued each year, except in 2001 when movement of cattle was prohibited due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. Usually only 3-4 bullocks are put on the land, thus following the stocking rate regulations stipulated by the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

Welwyn Hatfield council made a renewed commitment to Stewardship Grant in 2003. During the ten-year period to 2013, grazing continued and some of the willows were brought back into management (as described above).

Towards the end of this period, the Borough Council’s Landscape & Ecology team gave its support to the Friends of the River Mimram volunteer group. This group has been campaigning for the reduction of water extraction from the Mimram for many years and its members are closely involved with chalk-stream restoration throughout the river’s course. Volunteer work-parties have undertaken several projects to manage vegetation both in the river and elsewhere on Singlers Marsh Nature Reserve. (see below)

1.8 Present Use

Singlers Marsh continues to be managed as a nature reserve with multiple objectives. The northern part is grazed by rare breeds of cattle whilst the grassland in the southern part is managed in a more intensive way for informal recreation and local amenity.

Section 2 EVALUATION

2.1 Ecological Value

Singlers Marsh comprises a mosaic of habitats which together create a locally important site for wildlife. When it was re-surveyed by the Herts Local Wildlife Sites Partenership in 2011, the Marsh was found to achieve its selection criteria for neutral and mixed grassland habitats and its Local Wildlife Site designation was renewed.

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Of greatest importance to wildlife are its wetland habitats, namely calcareous marsh and , although both of these have declined in value in the last fifty years as a result of inappropriate management and nutrient enrichment.

Scrub habitat, especially when willow is a component, is of great importance to insects which in turn provide a vital food resource for birdlife including summer migrants. Management must aim to retain this scrub as good wildlife cover, especially if this can be maintained by rotational coppicing. Retention of dead wood habitat within the coppice is also vital to support invertebrates and fungi.

The nature reserve forms a vital link in the chain of similar wetland habitats along the course of the River Mimram and is especially important because it does not receive any agricultural inputs such as fertilisers or herbicides. Recent habitat enhancement initiatives funded by Natural England through the Beane and Mimram Partnership project will undoubtedly increase the variety of marginal and emergent vegetation along the river. This in turn will lead to an increase in diversity of chalk-stream species, thus enabling these iconic creatures to increase their distribution throughout the river’s catchment.

The ecological value of Singlers Marsh will continue to improve as grazing by cattle has beneficial effects upon wetland and grassland habitats and as management of other habitats is carried out year by year as resources allow.

2.2 Amenity Value

The site is highly treasured by the local people of Welwyn for whom it is one of only two public open spaces within walking distance of home. It offers a combination of mown grass sheltered by trees and scrub for ball games and village events and more informal, less intensively managed grassland with clumps of bushes and trees for quiet recreation, bird- watching and walking the dog.

2.3 Educational Value

Singlers Marsh offers a range of habitats for study at all levels of ability. The site is suitable for both formal and informal education by individuals and groups from schools, other youth organisations, adult education courses and natural history societies.

Studies might examine aquatic habitats and hydrological patterns, behaviour of birds and mammals, distribution of invertebrates, soil horizons, habitat mapping and species sampling. Students of social geography might also look at visitor behaviour and preferences.

2.4 Site Potential

There is considerable potential for the wildlife value of Singlers Marsh to be improved by careful management during the next few years. Already there have been positive changes to grassland habitats as a result of grazing, including the reduction of sweet-grass which is liked by cattle and improved structural diversity of the sward, although recent spring droughts have favoured the growth of more vigorous and drought-tolerant vegetation especially nettles in several areas.

The potential increase in biological value of the River Mimram is considerable but only as long as dedicated funding via Natural England’s Nature Improvement Areas capital budget or other external funding sources continues to support the Beane & Mimram Partnership project.

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The proposed reduction of water extraction which may take place at the end of the plan period will have a significant impact on water levels both in the river and in the meadows. What is a currently an occasional wet marsh at the north end may become more permanently flooded creating valuable wildlife habitat but perhaps restricting public access, especially along the course of the old water channel through the centre of the reserve.

It is expected that local people will continue to value and use the site in a similar way as at present and the Council will continue to support requests for special use of the amenity area for the Welwyn Carnival.

At present, the potential of Singlers Marsh for environmental studies is largely underused. Due to lack of staff resources, the Council is not actively promoting the site to local schools and youth groups and there have been no requests for use by schools. However, the Beane and Mimram Partnership Project has used the river for Riverfly training courses in 2013 and mire recently in 2014, pupils from St Mary’s School in Welwyn have enjoyed educational visits with the Partnership’s project officer

2.5 The Role of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)

HLS pays the Council an annual management grant enabling grazing to be continued on part of the site. It also pays a small part of the cost of specialist tree work, especially to the crack willows.

The scheme extends to the adjacent Danesbury Local Nature Reserve where rare breed cattle from the same herd graze the parkland of a former private estate and where grant funding will also help pay the cost of establishing new parkland trees.

Although the two areas are considered as separate nature reserves, they are brought together for the purposes of administering the HLS grant.

Section 3 FUTURE MANAGEMENT

3.1 Objectives of Future Management

The management of Singlers Marsh has the following objectives:

 To maintain and enhance habitats throughout the nature reserve for a wide range of typical local species, but especially for those of chalk streams, willow scrub and damp meadow.

 To maintain and improve access by local people and visitors for local recreation and enjoyment

 To encourage educational use

 To achieve the EU’s Water Framework Directive ‘Good Quality’ status for the River Mimram by 2027. Affinity Water have now included this in their 2015-20 Business Plan, which has been submitted to Ofwat for approval. The result should be known late 2014. If approved the volume abstracted from Fulling Mill pumping station would be reduced in stages from 2015 to the point in 2020 where Fulling Mill is shut down.

3.2 Management Activities

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3.2.1 Grassland

a) Working in partnership with the council’s conservation grazier, continue to graze cattle on the northern half of the reserve. Grazing should commence in spring but not earlier than beginning of April (if there is sufficient fodder) with the aim of controlling nettles earlier in the season. At the end of the season, the height of the sward should be at approximately 150mm with tussocks providing overwintering shelter for invertebrates (HLS guidelines).

b) Working in partnership with SERCO, maintain the current amenity mowing regime across the southern part of the reserve with particular attention being paid to the control of nettles growing around the grassland perimeter.

c) Cut as necessary the grass at the north end of the reserve in either autumn or early spring (depending upon ground conditions) any areas which remain too tall following grazing the previous season. This will prevent progressive invasion by brambles and inappropriate spread of scrub, thus maintaining the important mosaic of habitats.

d) Monitor the growth of nettles in the north end of the reserve and cut these as necessary, possibly at least monthly during the growing season, if control by grazing is not achieved. It is hoped that routine mowing at the north end of the reserve will not be necessary beyond the next few years, thus allowing a more diverse vegetation to return.

3.2.2 Trees, scrub and hedgerows

a) Continue to maintain the older willow pollards by cutting at regular intervals to stimulate new growth, to create new pollards where possible and to ensure continuity of habitat, particularly for insects and lower plants. Ideally, the majority of pollards should be reduced to a height at which repeat cutting can be safely undertaken by conservation volunteers rather than by specialist contractor.

b) Continue to monitor health and safety of all mature trees throughout the nature reserve and undertake tree work as appropriate to ensure public safety.

c) Maintain clumps of mixed scrub throughout the site to provide cover and food for wild birds, small mammals and insects. Coppice if necessary to stimulate new bushy growth.

d) Create new linking scrub habitats by planting hedges comprising locally native species where appropriate but not on areas of existing neutral grassland. Prevent weed growth along new hedgerows until plants are robust enough to fend for themselves and protect new hedging from grazing livestock where necessary.

e) Consider planting species such as alder, willow and hawthorn along the central drain to thicken up areas where coppicing has not resulted in good regeneration.

3.2.3 River Mimram

a) Continue to work in partnership with the Beane & Mimram Rivers Partnership, the Friends of the River Mimram and the Environment Agency to improve the condition of the river bed and margins to create more varied habitat for chalk stream wildlife.

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(Further general information and project plan for the wider river corridor can be found at www. beaneandmimrampartnership.org.uk)

Future projects will include: b) further installation of coir rolls along the edge of the channel at the south end of the reserve. These rolls, formed of a natural fibre, are pre-planted with native marginal species. As well as being a fast way to establish vegetation and narrow the channel, coir rolls also protect against bank erosion. This work will take place during winter 2013/14; c) on-going maintenance of over-shading trees and scrub by rotational coppicing and selective removal of larger trees along both sides of the river, although the eastern bank is not within borough council’s ownership and therefore outside its area of liability; d) further removal of silt and re-gravelling of the river if external funding is available; e) re-wetting of the central stream course to provide additional wetland habitat in the reserve. This is dependent upon the planned closure of Fulling Mill pumping station expected to take place in 2018. As described above (1.6.7), the stream and other areas occasionally flood due to high water table conditions but the latest project aims to cut a channel linking the river and stream so that, at times of high river level, a sluice can allow water to flow along the stream and create a controlled flood through the centre of the reserve. This project is at a very early stage and further thorough investigation by project partners is needed to ensure its success.

3.2.4 Access & Interpretation a) Ensure throughout the year that all access points are kept in good repair and free of overgrowth and nettles.

b) An application to create a public footpath through the nature reserve has been made to Herts County Council Rights of Way department (November 2013). Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has been invited to comment on the application. The future use of such a path may be influenced by the future potential of the reserve to flood when water levels are high in the river and in the water table.

c) Mow the main ‘desire’ paths through the northern half of the site as necessary.

d) Make contact with local schools and encourage use of the site for environmental studies.

e) Provide new interpretation board, if resources allow. Unfortunately, funding for interpretation is not now included within Higher Level Stewardship grant schemes.

f) Remove litter as and when necessary.

3.3 Getting the Work Done

The majority of the routine site maintenance will be carried out by council landscape contractors. This will include fence, gate and stile repairs and mowing.

Specialist management of willow trees will be undertaken by arboricultural contractors, especially any level pruning or pollarding. As the height of pollards is gradually reduced

10 during the next few years, it is hoped that local conservation volunteers can do some of this work.

The grazing will be continued by the Council’s conservation grazier.

Any work to water courses will be carried out with the agreement of the Environment Agency by the Friends of the Mimram (see below) or by contractors as necessary working through the Beane and Mimram Partnership project.

3.4 Community Involvement

A good relationship between the council and local people will be maintained. This will primarily be the responsibility of the Landscape Officer but the grazier will continue to play an important role.

The recent establishment of a Singlers Marsh sub-group of the Friends of the River Mimram is a very positive step forward and every effort will be made to support the new group with training and equipment as appropriate. Several working parties have been organised since 2011 and it is hoped that this will continue. Work has included the construction of silt barriers, planting of emergent vegetation, scrub management, hedge planting and rubbish removal. The borough council carries public liability insurance for any group working on its land. Friends and conservation volunteer groups will need to agree in advance any work that they propose to carry out, with the council including its compliance with the objectives of the management plan. In common with other Friends groups working at other council-owned nature reserves, the Singlers Marsh group must have a trained leader and qualified first aider accompanying the group on the working day.

4.0 Management Operations

Operation Time of Year Labour Force

Pollarding of willows – Before the end of October in Arboricultural Contractors. HLS will grant restoration each HLS agreement year. Friends of Mimram if of 10 trees in 2013/14 and working at safe height 10 in 2014/15.

Control of nettles Monthly cutting at N end during Landscape Contractor growing season as necessary. Elsewhere included in routine grass mowing contract SERCO

River habitat At any time, depending upon Beane & Mimram enhancement the activity Partnership project

Friends of the River Mimram

Maintenance of stiles, All year round. Entrances to be Landscape contractor gates and fences and strimmed throughout growing signs, including strimming season as necessary. vegetation.

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Mowing paths Once or twice during growing Landscape Contractor season or as necessary

Grazing including livestock April/May until October, with 4-6 Grazier welfare inspections cattle, as available

Litter and rubbish All year round as necessary SERCO clearance Friends of the River Mimram

Wildlife Monitoring Mostly March – October Landscape Officer and volunteer recorders HMWT – Wildlife Sites Project

Liaison with local All year round Landscape Officer schools/school visits Friends of the River Mimram Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Guided walks/open days Ad-hoc, but mostly during Landscape Officer & spring/summer Friends of the River Mimram

[Activities are summarised in map form at Appendix 4]

Section 5 SITE MONITORING AND REVIEW

5.1 Current Monitoring

The site is visited on a regular basis during the year by the Council’s Landscape Officer. The need for any routine maintenance is recorded and the necessary action taken, including any work to trees.

Recording of plants, birds and fungi is undertaken by the Landscape Officer on an ad-hoc basis, although it is hoped that local people with knowledge and enthusiasm may volunteer to assist with this.

During the grazing season, regular welfare inspections are undertaken by the grazier.

Surveying for water voles is undertaken by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

The Mimram is a riverfly sampling site where local volunteers have been trained to undertake invertebrate monitoring as part of a national scheme identifying pollution incidents and monitoring the general health of rivers. 12

The reserve is included within regular monitoring programmes by the Herts Wildlife Sites Project to assess whether it still meets the project’s criteria.

5.2 Plan Review

It is expected that much of the routine site management will proceed on a year by year basis. However, in view of recent changes in vegetation which have brought about amendments to the grassland cutting regime, a local review of this aspect of management will be undertaken with the parish council in autumn 2014.

Future changes may give the opportunity offered by the increasing water levels of the Mimram to increase the recreational and educational value of the Marsh by developing the Drain as a wetland reserve. These aspects and other opportunities will be explored in the next plan when the future of Fulling Mill pumping station and the effects of reducing water abstraction are more fully known. Such opportunities might include allowing a marshy area combined with water in the Drain to create a pond as well as reviewing the planting opportunities within the reserve.

The plan was approved by the council’s Cabinet on ……………………..2014

The appropriate time for a full review will be in 2019, half way through the HLS plan. Based on a recent (April 2014) announcement by Affinity Water, it is expected that water extraction will cease at Fulling Mill pumping station in 2018.

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