Section heading

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife

Graham White, Matt Self and Sarah Blyth

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 3 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

2 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife

The creation of new reedbeds and the re-invigorated management of existing sites has been a real conservation success in recent years. Significant progress has been made towards meeting nature conservation targets. Much of the work has focused on providing suitable habitat for one of the key associated species, the bittern, which had declined to just 11 booming males by 1997. By 2013 at least 1,500 ha of new reedbed had been created, or was in the process of creation, and restoration work had been undertaken on many of our existing reedbeds. Bitterns increased to 120 boomers, a remarkable response to the work undertaken. During this period, much information has been generated on reedbed design, establishment and management, and work on the ground, combined with continuing research into particular aspects of reedbed or species ecology, has continued to add to our knowledge and experience. This booklet aims to present an up-to-date summary of the techniques involved in creating and establishing reedbeds that maximise their value for wildlife. It is a result of discussion amongst RSPB staff involved in reedbed creation and management, as well as the experience of partner organisations and individuals.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 3 Steve Knell (rspb-images.com)

4 Contents

Chapter one: reedbed wildlife – what does it need? 07 Introduction 07 Invertebrates 08 Fish 09 Amphibians and reptiles 09 Mammals 10 Aquatic flora 10 Birds 10 Chapter two: reedbed creation 15 Key parameters for reedbed design 15 Reedbed establishment 19 Enhancing reedbeds for visitors 24 Chapter three: reedbed management 27 Introduction-why manage reedbeds? 27 Water regime 27 Management by cutting 29 Larger scale management by machines 31 What do we do with the reed cuttings? 36 Management by burning 40 Management by grazing 41 Chapter four: reedbed restoration 43 Bed lowering 43 Reedbed rejuvenation 44 Conclusions 46 Chapter five: case studies 49 Ouse Fen 49 Ham Wall 52 Hickling Broad 54 Minsmere 56 References and further reading 60

This book does not constitute legal or regulatory advice, and you should obtain specific information and advice, and procure all necessary licences and consents, from appropriate public and statutory bodies in connection with any planned works. The RSPB is not liable for any loss howsoever arising from reliance upon or use of this book. No responsibility can be accepted for any loss, damage or unsatisfactory results arising from the implementation of any recommendations made within this book.

Authors: Graham White, Matt Self and Sarah Blyth

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 5 Mark Sisson (rspb-images.com)

6 Chapter one: reedbed wildlife – what does it need? c Introduction c Birds c Fish c Mammals c Reptiles and amphibians c Invertebrates

Introduction The increased effort to create and this in mind, the “Bringing Reedbeds manage reedbeds in recent years has to Life” (BR2L) project during 2010-11 mainly been directed towards the undertook research to establish a better conservation of the bittern, a bird of understanding of the requirements of the wetter, early successional stages a range of reedbed wildlife, particularly of the habitat. However, although invertebrates. Some of the headline natural succession and associated findings were as follows: drying has been established as a key issue within UK reedbeds, it is clearly • The older, drier parts of the reedbed important to understand and provide support the highest overall invertebrate for the requirements of species across diversity and many invertebrates of the range of reedbed conditions. With conservation importance.

Diagram 1. Fish habitat requirements

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 7 • Early successional reedbeds are Invertebrates important for reedbed and wetland specialist invertebrates. Ditches and All stages of the reedbed succession pools add structural diversity and are support important invertebrate important for aquatic invertebrates communities (Kirby 2001). Maximum and plants. diversity is supported by reedbeds with damp, but not flooded, litter layer and an • Reedbeds are dynamic ecosystems; abundance of other reedbed herb species. temporal and spatial variation in Sparse reed with other emergent plants the habitat is key to maintaining a in shallow water is also good. Research in high diversity of flora and fauna. France has suggested that the maximum Management that maintains a range of biomass of invertebrates, rather than successional stages will maximise their diversity, was present in wetter areas conservation value and biodiversity. (Poulin et al 2002).

Our knowledge of the requirements of Some invertebrates associated with some of the main reedbed associates, reedbeds feed on the reed itself; others from the BR2L project (Hardman et are predators or parasites of these species. al 2012, Sears et al 2013) and other A further group live within reed stems studies, are summarised in the following but don’t feed on the plant. Many live sections. within the leaf litter, or are aquatic species living amongst the emergent stems. The reedbed structure is important for many of these species (Kirby 2001). Reedbeds are particularly noted for a number of scarce moths. Wet reedbeds are favoured by those species whose larvae feed and pupate within the foodplant. Characteristic species include the brown-veined wainscot. The larvae of the micromoth Schoenobius gigantella find fresh food by floating from stem to stem on a raft of reed stem. Drier reedbeds favour those species that pupate in reed litter or underground; these include fen wainscot, silky wainscot, reed dagger, Fenn’s wainscot, white-mantled wainscot and reed leopard. The early successional phases of reedbeds can be important for a range of scarce diptera.

Overall, invertebrate interests are best served if all stages of reedbed succession, from young reed in open water to old reed with scrub invasion on almost dry Graham White RSPB ground over dense litter, are provided. The juxtaposition of the stages can be important as many invertebrates have different requirements at various times in their life cycle. Small scale variation within a broader mosaic is likely to be desirable. Variation in associated habitats is also important: bare marginal substrates can be very important and shallow pools/ ditches with abundant emergent and submerged aquatic vegetation generally support a diverse invertebrate fauna. Small scale management and restoration may Species such as the twin-spotted wainscot may be cyclically be important for maintaining a range of abundant within reedbeds, causing typical signs on reed stems successional phases within the reedbed. of exit holes below the dying tip of the stem.

8 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter one: reedbed wildlife – what does it need?

Fish colonisation. Stocking is not a sustainable solution, but where the wetland design Fish biomass and abundance is generally has provided all the habitat types greater in shallow (about 1 m depth) required for the life cycle, the seeding of open waters and lakes than in reedbed/ locally appropriate species to establish a ditch systems. Therefore, reedbeds breeding population could be considered. will ideally contain, or be connected to, The fish community of a new wetland plenty of open water of at least that will often follow a successional pattern, depth, and preferably of varied depth, with the early stages dominated by with abundant aquatic plants. Pools piscivorous species, such as perch within reedbeds are preferred to ditches, and pike, followed by an increasing although connected deep ditches may dominance by cyprinids such as roach be useful winter habitat. Cyprinid fish and rudd. However, this will depend on typically exhibit seasonal variations in the fish present at the outset and any both distribution and habitat use. Adult introductions. fish generally gather in deeper, more sheltered waters during the winter months. In the spring, more open, Amphibians and reptiles warm, vegetated shallows less than 1.5 m deep are important for spawning Amphibians require well-vegetated and sheltering fry. Fish may also exhibit water-bodies within the reedbed, diurnal variations in distribution, using preferring gentle bank gradients, the littoral zone more by day and open shallower depths and in general, an water more by night. Connectivity within absence of fish. Common frogs prefer the reedbed system is vital to allow unshaded, seasonally flooded areas. movement between seasonal habitat Marsh frogs are more associated with preferences. Connectivity to rivers is also reedbed water-bodies and seem to be important (if the water quality is suitable) more tolerant of fish. Grass snakes can particularly to ensure the recruitment of be abundant in reedbeds, using piles of eels and their subsequent return to the cut reed vegetation in which to lay their sea. Eel passes should be used where eggs. Surrounding rough grassland/scrub appropriate. habitats are important. Creating isolated and seasonally drying pools around Overall, diversity in underwater structure, the margins of the reedbed should be with variations in bed depth and deeper considered for amphibians. Areas of refuge areas, is important to ensure that winter flooded land around the margins the seasonal microhabitat preferences of reedbeds (“blue-zone” areas – see of a range of fish species are met. Small page 16) may also be important. scale features such as flooded deer tracks on the edge of ditches can add structural variation and be valuable for Matt Self (RSPB) small fish. Similar features can easily be created along ditches with an excavator. Artificial underwater habitat in the form of rock piles, reefs or brash-bundles may also be created in the open water. The flooded edge of a reedbed can provide ideal refuge areas for fish to avoid some predatory birds such as cormorants and gulls, especially where there is a diversity of edge profiles and an irregular margin with many small inlets and promontories. These will also provide good feeding habitat for bitterns.

The introduction of fish requires careful consideration, not only of the range of species typical of the location but Eel pass at Ham Wall. also the ease and availability of natural

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 9 the harvest mouse, which feeds on invertebrates in the summer and seeds during the winter. Water shrews may also be present. Reedbeds can be used as daytime refuges by deer, and although large numbers can be damaging, the tracks and movements of small numbers can increase structural diversity within

Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) the habitat.

Aquatic flora

Ditches and pools within the reedbed should provide abundant shallow water up to 1 metre deep for submerged and emergent plants. Subsequent management should allow for a full range of seral succession, from open water to vegetation choked ditches. Areas of deeper water (> 1.5 m) are required to reduce the potential for reed dominance. Management can reduce the dominance of reed and allow a greater variety of plants to flourish.

Species presence depends on water pH, salinity and trophic status. Most aquatic plant species prefer mesotrophic- eutrophic conditions with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. New reedbed landforms should therefore ideally avoid using top- soils or other nutrient-rich substrates.

Birds

Marsh frog Research into the ecology of the bittern in recent years has helped clarify its Mammals requirements and these are summarised below. The requirements of other reedbed Although reedbeds may not seem ideal birds are understood to greater or lesser for mammals, they can be important for degrees and are summarised in Table 1, some key species. Reedbeds provide page 12. In the light of climate change, it excellent feeding and lying-up sites is also worth considering what species for otters, which require abundant fish may use reedbeds in the future. and amphibian prey within the pools and ditches. Scrubby islands within the reedbed can be important refuge Bittern habitat requirements sites. Water voles can also thrive within Research into the habitat preferences reedbeds, which may provide a refuge of bitterns in the UK has concluded from predation by the introduced that they prefer large, wet reedbeds, American mink. Reedbed design should with plenty of open water and reed/ incorporate areas above maximum water edge, and ideally set within a winter water levels, some isolated within wider wetland landscape. Bitterns the reedbed, in order to accommodate predominantly feed on fish, although burrows and provide a winter diet of they will also take small mammals, roots and rhizomes. amphibians and large invertebrates. Open water occupies on average about Reedbeds also provide habitat for 30% of a bittern home range. The open

10 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter one: reedbed wildlife – what does it need? water habitat will ideally consist of due to tidal influence. They may nest in connected meres, pools and ditches, stable brackish water as long as there with the reed/water interface being an is sufficient available food, which would important component. A total of around be likely to be a mix of both fresh and 250-400 metres of reed edge per hectare brackish species (Gilbert et al 2010). is the ideal target – this necessitates a great deal of complexity in the reedbed In relation to the requirements of the structure. The importance of this bittern, the classic early successional reed edge for bitterns is not only the reedbed bird, the requirements of a wider immediate interface of reed and water, it range of breeding birds can be split into is the area of wet reed (growing in water) three groups: within 30 metres of pools and ditches (Gilbert et al 2005). • Species with more or less similar habitat needs that normally Bitterns feed mainly on those fish that should benefit from conservation use the wet reed edge; research has management for bittern. These are shown rudd, sticklebacks and eels to be species preferring tall, strong and wet most frequently eaten in the breeding reed stands with contact to open water season when females are feeding or small water bodies and channels chicks. However, other species may within the reedbed (little bittern, great be important in different sites or at reed warbler). different times of the year, so a diverse fish community is desirable. Prey sizes • Species that have more variable habitat when female bitterns are feeding their needs than the bittern, but could young are relatively small (fish 6-10 cm, co-exist on the same site with some although eels can be twice as long) so extra habitat variation (marsh harrier, a viable breeding population of fish or bearded tit, water rail, great white a supply of smaller eels, is essential egret, purple heron, reed warbler, reed (Gilbert et al 2003). bunting). Species such as water rail, reed warbler and reed bunting find A bittern home range will extend to their optimum in more littered, older, around 20 ha of good reedbed/wetland dense reed beds with shallower but habitat on average, increasing in size in consistent water levels. the non-breeding season. Males establish their booming territories earlier in wetter • Species that may have largely sites with greater fish densities (Gilbert et contradictory needs to the bittern, al 2007). Breeding bitterns tend to nest in with drier and more varied reed habitat the wettest part of a reedbed, with nests (spotted crake, crane, bluethroat, sedge recorded in up to 1 metre of water within warbler, Savi’s warbler). the reed (Sears et al 2013). However, they will use drier sites where abundant food The detailed requirements are not is available, with water depths of 30 cm or completely known for many species. For more being suitable. Female bitterns tend each species the annual requirements to choose a nest location in a block of are like a jigsaw puzzle, with some continuous reed on average 2 ha in size. pieces appearing more important than Water levels around the nest are generally others with obvious consequences. For high even at the driest part of the season. good reason there is a focus on birds’ It is likely that female bitterns will choose requirements during the breeding season to nest in areas that are less likely to dry and the availability of the correct food. out as the summer progresses and they will be sensitive to any vegetative clues to seasonal water levels within the reedbed (Gilbert et al 2005).

Dense reed in deeper water will deter most mammalian predators and females will prefer to feed as close to their nest as possible, especially when chicks are small. They are unlikely to nest in areas that have fluctuating water levels

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 11 Diagram 2. Examples of the range of wildlife associated with managed reedbed.

12 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter one: reedbed wildlife – what does it need?

Table 1. Habitat and food requirements of a range of reedbed bird species.

Species General requirements Breeding Bittern Generally large wet reedbeds, with wet areas, A continuous reed block of c2ha, wet through particularly, flooded reed edges adjacent to open the season, for females to nest. Females water, accessible and available throughout the season. will fly >1km to find food but its best if good A variety of food, principally fish, but also amphibians, feeding is nearby. Availability of small/young large invertebrates, mammals and birds. If food is fish is important. available, Bitterns will feed in brackish or tidal areas. Marsh Tall vegetation, traditionally reedbeds where they will Freshwater or brackish reedswamps with harrier choose wetter areas, but recently also in arable fields. large areas of dense emergent aquatic They will feed on small birds and mammals found growth. Hunting ranges may extend up to predominantly in and around wetlands, wet grassland at least 2 km away from the nest. Hunting and farmland. ranges become larger, and overlap more, as the season progresses. Water A mosaic of habitat with tall dense clumps of reed or Territories are particularly associated with rail marsh vegetation in shallow standing water or slow a mosaic of scrub, vegetation, exposed moving water, close to fringing scrub and exposed soil and water. Nests are found in sedges, mud or drier patches. Their diet is varied, mainly reeds, grasses, bracken or a mixture of these invertebrates but also small fish, amphibians, berries with standing water. Fixed well defended and shoots. territories which vary tremendously in size. Spotted Mosaic of flooded and moist habitat with mixed A small breeding territory is defended that crake fen vegetation mostly 0.5-1.0m tall, with constant encompasses both nesting and feeding presence of shallow water, about 5cm,is important. habitat. Breeding territories may be as small Their diet is varied, mainly invertebrates but also small as 0.5 ha. Heterogeneity at a small scale is fish, berries and shoots. Feed in open structured important. Territories contain a combination vegetation. of permanent shallow standing water with aquatic vegetation providing nest sites, together with feeding habitat characterised by tussocks of wet sedge or grass and drier areas of exposed substrate. Grass- Dense ground cover, including tall marshy vegetation, Breeding birds will nest and feed within the hopper ideally with some small shrubs. Feeding mainly on same area, so dense ground cover should warbler insects picked from the ground or from vegetation. extend across as large an area as possible: about a hectare. A wet or dry tussock structure is ideal with birds being able to move unseen between tussocks. Birds may breed 2 or even 3 times. Savi’s Large, tall and dense reedbeds, 10+ years old, with Within a relatively small territory it needs warbler a well developed under-storey of old stems, leaves both drier marsh fen in which to nest and etc, often of sedge or other non-reed vegetation, wetter reedswamp in which to feed on their in shallow water. Scattered willows optimal but not essential. They will eat a variety of small invertebrates, specialising in aquatic invertebrates. Favoured prey include adult and larval arthropods and snails. Bearded Mixed reedbed, with areas of reed litter with a high Drier, older area of reedbed is needed for tit reed/water interface. Their diet in spring and summer nesting and a dense cover of dry, thin reed mainly invertebrates, in winter mainly seeds. They stems is important for concealing nests. prefer the reedbed edge near water for foraging, and, Nesting areas may be well separated from in spring and summer, fly to wetter areas with high feeding areas. chironomid abundance. Marsh Damp ‘rank’ sites, but not at standing water or Nesting structure provided by stronger plant warbler swamps and tends to use tall, thick herbage of that species like meadowsweet, nettles or even year’s growth rather than reliant on previous year’s Japanese knotweed. Nesting in June through dead vegetation. Also may use osier bed type willow July will rarely have a second brood but may and some reed areas. A diet of insects, spiders and attempt a replacement clutch on failure. some snails is usually gleaned from vegetation, sometimes will catch flying insects.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 13 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

14 Chapter two: reedbed creation c Key parameters for reedbed design c Reedbed establishment c Enhancing reedbeds for visitors

interface should be in the region of 250- Key parameters 400 m/ha. When choosing nesting sites, for reedbed design female bitterns look for habitat that is not going to dry out during the breeding Size. New reedbeds should ideally be as season. The average size of reedbed large as possible, aiming for a minimum blocks that females nest in is about 2 ha, of 20 ha (although up to 100 ha or more if with an average minimum width of about possible). Larger sites allow: 100 m. Isolated wet blocks of reed (ie surrounded by water) may be preferred • more habitat variation by nesting females. • more scope for dynamic water and vegetation management In larger reedbeds, large blocks of wet • greater potential to support viable reed, surrounded by water, and with populations of wetland species pools or islands in the middle may be • more likelihood of attracting colonising more likely to attract nesting colonial species waterbirds such as herons and egrets. • less impact of generalist predators Such areas should be designed to be • more options for the management of remote from public access. visitors (to reduce disturbance). Drier reedbed will have water 20-40 cm However, in areas with existing reedbeds deep in late winter/spring and is likely to or wetlands, smaller areas of habitat dry to bed level over substantial areas by creation are likely to be beneficial, late summer. Such areas should have a especially if they add to the diversity flat or gently rolling landform to enable of habitat present and form clusters of cutting if necessary. They should be nearby wetlands. subdivided with ditches, include pools, and could grade into marginal scrub areas. Habitat proportions. A new reedbed should aim to provide the following: The establishment of scrub in a reedbed is frequently seen as a negative feature • around 25-30% open water (meres, and may be indicative of drying out or pools and ditches) natural succession. However, wet scrub • 40-50% wet reed (standing in water all is a scarce habitat that is a valuable year) feature within a reedbed for birds and • 15-25% drier reed, and invertebrates. Wet scrub areas may • 5-10% wet and dry scrub. form valuable nesting areas for herons, egrets and other waterbirds. Scrub-reed Where the bittern is a target species, ecotones are also valuable. aim for the “wetter” end of the habitat proportions, at least for a core area of Where possible, it is beneficial to c20 ha. A core area for bitterns will ideally incorporate shallow meres 1-5 ha in have a substantial amount of wet reed extent, with an extensive drawdown zone, within 30 m of a pool, or ditch connected into the design. They may include islands. to a pool, and have a gently varied These meres will provide excellent topography with an average late winter/ feeding areas for wildfowl, waders, spring water depth within the reeds of herons and egrets as water levels recede. 50-70 cm (range of 30–100 cm). Within The surrounding areas may be a drier, this core area the overall reed/water more diverse reedbed or reedfen habitat.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 15 Having established the ideal proportions gravel pit for example), the open water for the main area of reedbed, it is element within the reedbed should essential to consider the wider wetland meet the above target although the within which the reedbed is located. open water proportion within the wider Gradients between the reedbed and wetland is likely to be much higher. There the surrounding habitat are important: is a huge potential for the creation of create gently sloping “blue-zone” areas reedbeds in redundant mineral workings (see below) or transitions into marsh, but some particularly difficult issues will wet grassland, fen, wet scrub or brackish arise, notably with the availability of fill vegetation. material. If there is a shortage of fill, it is best to create the maximum area of Open water. The open water within ideal landform with the available material the reedbed should ideally consist of and retain one or two very deep water- connected pools and ditches, some bodies rather than spread the material larger shallow meres and some isolated out and create less than ideal habitat. pools. The open water should provide Where larger areas of open water are extensive areas around 1–1.5 m deep in created, fetch and erosion issues should spring in both ditches and pools, with be considered. The design should fewer deeper areas to 2.5 m in the incorporate sheltered areas, perhaps meres. Open water pools are better created through the addition of islands. for fish than just ditches and channels. At least one larger pool of 1 to 2 ha in “Blue-zones” are the areas of winter size should be included as a minimum. flooded land around the margins of Although reed/water edge is a very reedbeds. They flood as winter water important feature, it is better to increase levels rise and dry down during the the length of edge by creating a more summer. Water levels are generally complex pool edge, with perhaps some shallow so a gentle landform gradient channels coming from a pool, rather is required. Blue-zone areas tend to than creating lots of linear channels. be highly productive for amphibians, Varied underwater topography in the invertebrates or fish (if connected to form of shallow bars and deeper gullies the main water-bodies). As such they is beneficial. This will include a diversity are attractive feeding areas for birds. of edge profiles, from shallow (1:10) to They can also be important areas for steep (1:2, if soils permit). nesting waders and wildfowl. Blue-zone areas are generally grazed during the Where a reedbed is created adjacent summer to restrict reed and maintain to extensive open water (on a flooded the open water. Malcolm Hunt (rspb-images.com)

Example of grazed blue-zone

16 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter two: reedbed creation Matt Self (RSPB) Ditches. Ditches within a reedbed should be 5-10 m wide as a minimum, with a variety of alignments to provide varying environmental conditions. Narrower ditches may need to be deeper to restrict reed growth. Ditches should be 1–2 m deep. The edges of both ditches and pools should be varied, with regular (every 10 m or so) sheltered bays and inlets of varying sizes, some gentle edges, some steep. These features can be created with an excavator or bulldozer after the main land-forming has been completed. They can also be added in to existing reedbeds with rather homogeneous, straight ditches.

Example of ditch features.

Diagram 3. Ditch structure design.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 17 Diagram 4. Overhead views of a mixed wetland showing habitat gradation from reedbed to wet grassland and scrub

18 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter two: reedbed creation

Variability, connectivity and gradients. Nutrient status. Nutrient levels in the Landform gradients between “zones”, reedbed water-bodies should ideally be eg open water to wet reed, should be low. When land-forming, sub-soils should variable, from around 1 in 40 into larger be used rather than nutrient-rich top-soils pools and meres, to 1 in 2 to 1 in 4 along wherever possible. It may be necessary ditch margins. Variability is valuable in to “flush through” newly created sites in all areas and all stated depths/gradients order to remove elements released during should be treated as an average figure. the earthmoving process. In addition, Aim to build in “roughness”, for example consideration should be given to the water the open water will on average be 1 m source and the possibility of removing deep but in practice have shallower bars excessive nutrients prior to input. and deeper gullies. Underwater gullies and drop-offs can provide good fish Introductions. In general, as little as habitat. In general, connectivity of water possible should be introduced; in most bodies is important; it is crucial to allow cases just reed. If the habitat conditions water flow and fish movements. However, are right and the site is not isolated, isolated pools, some seasonally drying, colonisation will often be rapid. In some will provide benefits for amphibians circumstances, principally isolated sites, and invertebrates. Culverts and sluices locally native fish may be “seeded” to between compartments should be large help establish breeding populations. enough to allow adequate water and fish movement, and reduce the risk of blockage (600 mm is recommended). Reedbed establishment It may be necessary to incorporate fish passes on sluices to ensure free passage Several techniques are available for around and outside the site. Remember: establishing reed. They are well described variability, variability, variability. in a number of publications (Self 2003, Hawke and Jose 1996) with the Management issues. When designing available techniques being summarised any reedbed, it is important to consider below. They all have advantages and how it will be managed in the future. disadvantages. Each site needs to be Where management requires access assessed and the techniques chosen on for cutting or grazing, reed areas will a site-by-site basis, with soil type, water need to incorporate access connections. level and degree of control (as well as Shallower access points may require the time of year) often determining the more frequent management to prevent technique used. The techniques include: reed encroachment, although they can be surfaced with shingle or geotextile. • sowing seed Whilst variability is good, the site needs • planting seedlings to be safely accessed by people, grazing • planting cuttings animals or machinery. Across a reedbed • spreading rhizomes landform, the creation of a “ridge and • turf transplants. furrow” at around 10 m spacing is a useful compromise between variability Whichever technique is employed, it is and ease of management. not necessary to “plant up” the whole site. Planting a nucleus of reeds in an Compartmentalisation of the reedbed area with good water level control creates has both positive and negatives features. a source of reed that can spread out into Compartmentalisation increases the appropriately managed areas. Expansion ease of managing discrete areas whilst rates vary greatly from 1-10 metres/ retaining functional capacity in the year. The rate of expansion is likely to be remainder, but too many compartments affected by temperature, water depth, will reduce connectivity. Up to 40 ha, grazing and competition. Where reed a reedbed should have two or three is present in adjacent ditches natural compartments to allow rotational colonisation can be rapid, especially if drying and management. Above 40 ha, aided by turf transplant. the compartments should be around 20 ha. There should be the ability to When establishing reed, consider the draw down or flood each compartment source of the material – seeds, rhizomes independently. and shoots. Ideally, material should come

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 19 from the site itself (unless it is known germination takes 3-4 days. The seedbed to be poor quality). If this is not possible must be kept wet without over-topping then source from some other similar seedlings. Rainfall during this period can local site. Planting reed taken from local wash seeds and seedlings away and is a sites with similar conditions is likely to be risk. Once shoots have reached a height more successful. Shallow flooding allows of 100-200 mm, the bed can be flooded the site’s lowest areas to be identified. to 50 mm. These can be marked out using canes and planted following drawdown. It may Planting seedlings. also be appropriate to use the techniques Planting out pot-grown seedlings of in combination. known origin is the most widely used method of establishing reedbed, Sowing seed. though it may also be costly and labour Hand sowing of prepared reed panicles intensive. Planted out seedlings are more (generally cut into 1-2 cm pieces) is able to compete and survive adverse currently the only available practical weather conditions. If the bed conditions option. It requires careful ground are suitable, success rates are close to preparation to ensure good soil/seed 100%. Buying nursery-grown material is contact and to reduce weed problems, expensive, although costs are reduced good water level management and the if buying in bulk for large-scale projects. collection of large numbers of panicles. For large-scale planting it may be more Where these conditions are met, sowing cost-effective to grow your own by using can be a very cheap and successful plug trays in shallow water within a method of establishing reed. The polytunnel. following factors need to be considered: Pot-grown material can be planted out • seed viability within the panicles should by hand using a dibber to create a hole be tested before sowing. This can be of sufficient size. Individual seedlings as simple as putting wetted panicles are usually planted at densities of 1-4 in a bag in a warm place for five days, m2. At the higher density, planting time then counting the shoots. is approximately 540 person hours per • sowing should take place in still hectare (Mills et al, 1999). Mechanical conditions planting is currently at an experimental • soil should be saturated but not stage. It is best to plant in June, as early flooded, long pre-flooding may be as possible after the frosts have ceased. advantageous. This saturation needs Planting any later leaves plants vulnerable to be maintained as seedlings are very to competition. Water levels should prone to drying in the early stages. be at or just above the soil surface. • bed should be flat and free of An alternative option may be to plant vegetation big seedlings late in the season after • sowing should take place in May/June, competition has been controlled. ensuring the daytime temperatures range from 10-25°C and nights are frost Where good water level control exists, free. Pre-germinating on a heated mat bed preparation is less important, as may give more flexibility with timing. water levels can be used to discourage • panicle fragments should be pressed most terrestrial species (although an gently into the seedbed to ensure good initial topping of existing vegetation is contact. Rollers are rarely suitable, beneficial). Reed seedlings less than a instead compression boards or year old can tolerate water levels up to trampling should be used. 200 mm above the topmost shoots, but • Mixing the panicle fragments in a only for short periods. Under ideal water carrier such as silver sand can be conditions, reed is likely to out-compete beneficial when sowing. other species in due course but some areas of mixed vegetation should be Seed density should be in the range seen as beneficial. However, shoots will 10-125 viable seeds m2 (0.5-1 panicle be grazed more by wildfowl if they are m2) on bare, wet soil. In good conditions growing in water.

20 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter two reedbed creation Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Reed seedling plug Matt Self (RSPB)

Reed seedlings being grown in polytunnels ready to plant out

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 21 Planting cuttings. is only really practical over small areas Stem cuttings are easily cut and planted as 2,500 m3 of material is required but have widely differing success rates, per hectare. Transportation costs over often very low. This approach is limited to long distances are also prohibitive. a short period of the year. A donor area of Alternatively, loads of excavated 100 m2 will yield around 100,000 stems. rhizomes can be deposited at 10 m Stems can be cut cleanly with scissors intervals, ie 100 / ha across the proposed or a grass-hook in May and June with as reedbed area. many nodes as possible retained. Cut stems can be stored in water but should Turf transplants. be planted on the same day if possible. Cutting turves as complete rhizome The bases should be planted into water. mats decreases damage and reduces A hole can be pushed into the soil with the volume of material to transport. This a metal rod with a diameter slightly less technique can be very successful. On a that the stem and at least two nodes small-scale, turves can be cut by hand pushed in. with a spade, but for large-scale projects diggers with buckets capable of digging Transplanting rhizomes. 1 m x 1 m turves are required. The same Transplanting rhizomes, either by equipment is used to cut the recipient spreading rhizome-rich soil or using hole. The spacing of planting depends turves, can be a quick and successful on the size of the turves and the desired method of establishing reed and has rate of spread. The following points are the added advantage that litter and soil important: invertebrates that may be of conservation value are also introduced to the site • Larger turves contain more undamaged together with plants. It is most useful material and will establish a reedbed on smaller project sites where donor more quickly. material is located close by. • Water levels may be from just below the surface to up to 500 mm deep Spreading soil containing rhizomes. providing turves have long, intact reed This technique involves the transfer stems attached. of the top 300-500 mm of an existing • Bed preparation is less critical, reedbed to a prepared recipient site. providing flooding is immediate to Rhizome-rich soil is often excavated suppress competition. during the maintenance of drainage • When transported or stored, turves channels and can be used for this should not be stacked one on top of purpose. The following points should be the other, as this damages aerial stems considered when using this technique: which supply oxygen to the rhizomes. • Where large machinery is already on • the soil should be spread at least 250 site for landforming, the positioning mm deep. of rhizome turves at the end of the • the soil must be moist and must not dry process can be a cost-effective and out, but equally should not be saturated efficient method of starting reed as bare rhizome fragments need to have establishment. some contact with air. • soil manipulation should be minimised to avoid damaging rhizomes and the Reedbed protection material should not be stored for long The first season after sowing/planting is periods. the most critical for reed survival with • excavation and spreading should ideally drought, weed control and wildfowl be carried out in the winter, but avoid grazing all being important factors. frost on exposed rhizomes. Excavation Problems can be very costly to resolve should be to just below the rhizome in terms of money and delays to reed level; the depth varies according to the establishment. site. • it may be necessary to pre-excavate the It is necessary to protect the establishing recipient site to achieve desired water reedbed from competition with other levels and easier future management. plants and from grazing animals in the first year. Newly-sprouted reed is eaten Spreading rhizome-rich soil in this way by a variety of grazing animals, eg geese,

22 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter two: reedbed creation coots, deer, rabbits and livestock, and bird scaring devices such as rook scarers, this can seriously inhibit reed growth/ plastic bags on tall sticks etc. expansion. Some form of fencing is essential. Plastic netting with tape However do not be pessimistic! Given stretched across the enclosure has been time and the correct conditions, reed will successful at some sites to protect out-compete other species. In general, a new plantings from grazing, but needs slower expansion of reed with a complex to be combined with regular human reed/water interface and a mix of other disturbance of the site. At other sites, species, is better than a dense reed complete cover with netting has been monoculture. Finally, a good monitoring required to keep birds such as coots programme, such as fixed-point out of the enclosures. Other possible photography or repeated auditing (Sears solutions include minimising the area of et al 2013), is invaluable to the project open water in the early stages to reduce itself and to others. attractiveness to water birds, as well as Graham White RSPB Graham White

Reed protection at Old Moor

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 23 Enhancing reedbeds for Habitat management. Cutting to create gaps, glades, rides, visitors shallow water and reed stubbles will be desirable for the reedbed ecology Extensive reedbeds can be very dull but can also be targeted at appropriate places for the casual visitor. Many of locations to enable visitors to see key the typical species can be very difficult species. Bearded tits and water rails, for to see well, either hidden in the reeds example, will readily feed along rides cut themselves or within unviewable pools into the reeds. Bitterns will make use of within the reedbed. The value of adding these gaps to move through the reedbed structural diversity into the reedbed for and snipe and waterfowl will loaf in reed wildlife has already been stated. This stubbles by a pool. Clumps of scrub also adds interest to the visitor. A new within the reeds may provide perching or reedbed should take account of the nesting areas. future visitor access provision, aiming to provide a year-round wildlife spectacle Manipulation of water levels to reveal where possible. This can be considered muddy margins and islands around or under three headings: reedbed design, within a large waterbody will attract a habitat management and visitor range of wading birds, herons, egrets infrastructure. and waterfowl. Targeted spring or autumn draw-downs will attract migrant birds Reedbed design. on passage. Grazing reedbed margins Where there are visitor, interpretative to create a peripheral “blue-zone” also or educational objectives, the design creates a good visitor feature. of the reedbed should be informed by knowledge of future access routes and Visitor infrastructure. proposed viewpoints. Overall, this should The routes of paths in and around the present no conflict with the ideal design reedbed should be as varied as possible for wildlife but does require consideration and avoid long, straight sections. Where from the outset. The orientation of paths are generally low, at reed height, ditches and pools, and their shape, will they could rise to occasional hummocks, be influenced by the chosen viewpoints. providing views over the habitat. Malcolm Hunt (rspb-images.com)

Lakenheath viewpoint

24 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter two: reedbed creation

Paths should include sections not just provide both high, long overviews of alongside but into the reed habitat and the habitat and low, short and medium under clumps of reed/scrub canopy. views into the habitat, along ditches and into pools. This may include tower hides Views should be provided regularly along providing panoramic views in appropriate ditches and into pools and also into and locations and low level hides at ditch and along the ecologically important edge pool edges. habitats; scrub, pools, ditches and mud. Boardwalks over pools will give close Finally, it is important to remember that views of dragonflies, water voles or disturbance can be a key issue. Visitor amphibians. access may be targeted into one section of the habitat, allowing just high views Where hides or viewpoints are over the remainder. constructed, it is important that they Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)

Bearded tits feeding from grit tray.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 25 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

26 Chapter three: reedbed management c Introduction – why manage reedbeds? c Water regime c Management by cutting c Larger scale management by machines c What do we do with the reed cuttings? c Management by burning c Management by grazing

Introduction – why • to supply reed for commercial purposes (Hawke and Jose 1996). manage reedbeds? In addition, reedbed management Conservation action for reedbeds over the is increasingly undertaken on nature last 20 years has been highly successful. reserves to enhance the experience of Not only have significant areas of visitors, by attracting a greater range of existing, but ageing, reed been restored species within viewing range and making to an earlier successional phase, but the reedbed wildlife more visible. creation of over 1,500 hectares of new reedbed has been started. However, after Winter cutting of reed will maintain its the euphoria of meeting targets comes dominance (assuming water levels are the hard question – how will we be able appropriate). Summer cutting of reed to manage this area of reed in the future? reduces its competitive ability, allows The traditional method of cutting with a more diverse mix of vegetation and a reciprocating mower and a team of ultimately eliminates it. No management volunteers is clearly unsustainable on all at all will allow natural succession to but the smallest of sites. There appears to continue, the speed of which is largely be a substantial mismatch between the dependant on the water regime. amount of management required and our ability to achieve current prescriptions. Do we need to move towards increased Water regime mechanisation? Can, and should, we work more closely with professional reed The water regime (the water levels cutters? Do we need to manage at all? maintained throughout a year) is crucial to the management of a reedbed. Reedbed management is primarily In recent years, before extensive concerned with two issues: the water restoration, many UK reedbeds were regime and the removal of vegetation. becoming drier through the build-up of Reed cutting, or vegetation removal by reed litter and the associated processes other means, is traditionally undertaken of natural succession. One of the for one or all of the following reasons: simplest ways of rehabilitating such a site may be to alter the hydrology by • to slow, or reverse, the natural raising water levels. However, this should succession to scrub and woodland, be undertaken with caution and certainly primarily by reducing the rate of litter not without knowledge of the key accumulation and at the same time species, particularly invertebrates, within stimulating the production of new reed. the reedbed. The impact on neighbouring sites must also be assessed. On some • to provide ideal conditions for wildlife sites, water levels have been kept through the creation of structure, relatively high and stable in recent years including open, wet habitat, pools, with the understanding that this not only glades and reedy edges. benefits bitterns but also slows natural

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 27 succession. However, the wisdom of conditions. Reed degeneration results in such an approach has been shown to fewer panicles, lower seed production be open to question due to the effect and lower live stem and rhizome density. it may have on the quality of the reed The low rhizome density can result in (see below) and its effect on a range the firm bed of the reedbed breaking up of reedbed species. In general, it is into a muddy gloop. At the water margin, advisable to maintain a “natural” water continuous stands of reed degrade to regime of high winter levels, dropping to isolated clumps, with increased exposure lowest levels in late summer, with some to waves and erosion (Belgers and Arts variation depending on annual weather. 2003). Such effects have been shown to be a causal factor in the decline of the Many reedbeds, particularly recently great reed warbler in The Netherlands created sites, have water control (Graveland 1998). This is a bird that structures to enable water levels to favours the outer fringe of wet reed, and be maintained and manipulated. Such this, therefore, may also be important for structures should be easy to operate and other wet reedbed birds. enable rapid and effective movement of water if required. They should also Reed health may therefore be promoted be regularly checked to ensure they are by reducing the build up of organic holding water. This is especially important material, including its own litter. when considering the more extreme Lowering of water levels in reedbeds conditions of rain and drought that are in late summer may be beneficial in predicted as a result of climate change. A promoting oxidation of reed litter. Having small leakage through a drop-board sluice seasonally dry littoral zones can aid can accumulate into substantial water seed germination, maintaining genetic loss over a prolonged dry period. diversity decreasing the chance of having monoclonal reed stands. In addition, Where cutting is required (either for increased winter water levels with a conservation or commercial reasons), through-put of water assist with the water drawdown to ground level or flushing of organic material. below is usually required to enable access. Conservation cutting to maintain It is generally true that water quantity reed dominance is undertaken any time is more important than its quality – during the non-growing season, while but with some qualification. Lowland commercial cutting is generally January- watercourses frequently have elevated February after the reed stems have dried levels of nutrients because of agricultural and the leaves have dropped. The rapid run-off and treated sewage effluent. raising of water levels after cutting can Reed grows well in such eutrophic slow, or even kill, reed growth if cut conditions and reedbeds themselves can stems are flooded, and care is taken contribute to water quality improvement, by reed cutters to avoid this. However, although high nutrient levels have been on conservation sites with a varied implicated in some cases of reedbed topography, deliberate flooding after decline, for example in the Norfolk cutting, aimed towards killing limited Broads. However, in the creation of new areas of reed, can create structure, reedbeds, we are generally aiming for variety and foraging areas, including bare diverse aquatic systems within the pools ground, for a variety of species from and ditches, based on abundant aquatic invertebrates to birds. macrophytes and clear water conditions. Highly eutrophic water often results in Reed cutters have long argued that turbid, algal-dominated conditions, so stagnation of water is detrimental and in ideally, the water source will have a low support of this there is evidence of reed nutrient status, particularly if there is little die-back due to unnatural water tables throughput in the summer. and eutrophication (van der Putten 1997). It has been shown that phytotoxins In summary, a “natural” water regime released during the decomposition of cycle with a drawdown in late summer reed litter reduce the vitality of the reed. may be better for reedbeds than one Eutrophication and stagnant water tables with stable deep water, which increases may be a key factor in die-back by both the exposure of reeds to the negative promoting litter production and anaerobic effects of litter accumulation. The ideal

28 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management annual water regime may therefore Management by cutting have deeper winter water (50-100 cm within the reeds), dropping to a lower Traditionally, reedbed management on summer level (5-30 cm). However, nature reserves has been undertaken variation within this, with both deeper with hand-held machines, either and shallower areas will maximise brushcutters or walk-behind mowers. benefits to wildlife. At the driest part of Brushcutters have the advantage of the year it is important to retain some being versatile, easy and quick to get to wet reed and pools as refuges areas for site and can cope with varying ground fish and invertebrates. The ideal water conditions. However, even though they regime may be achieved by simply are relatively cheap to purchase and allowing natural fluctuations to occur or several may be operated at a site, they by manipulation through water control are the slowest method of cutting, structures. Where such structures exist, can break down frequently and are water levels may also be manipulated for dependent on the operator’s energy short periods to allow cutting or other levels! They are used to best advantage management. A continual throughput of in small, difficult or awkward situations. water would also be beneficial. Walk-behind mowers (such as the Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

Traditional pedestrian cutting for commercial use.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 29 Bucher, BCS or Iseki) have the advantage communities. Conservation management of cutting larger areas more quickly. of reedbeds has therefore tended to However, they are often heavy and slow steer away from short-term rotational to get onto site, have a low ground cutting, particularly over extensive areas. clearance and can be time-consuming to extract from soft, muddy ground. However, there is evidence that many They are best used on larger areas of reedbed birds favour “edges”, or flat, firmer ground. The use of both younger, more open reedbeds, either brushcutters and mowers is weather and for feeding or breeding. Cutting can water-level dependent. Traditionally, the create such structural variations. Baldi arisings are raked, stacked and/or burnt. and Kisbenedek (1999 & 2000) found that certain reedbed passerines bred Using these methods, costs (as of 2008) at greater densities close to reedbed have been calculated as £1200-1600/ edges, notably great reed, reed and ha (Leighton Moss), £2200-5600/ha sedge warblers and bearded tit. They (Minsmere) or £3000-7000/ha (Ham Wall), also showed that a collection of small or varying from 10-60m2/person/hour. reed islands held more species than a These variations are accounted for by site large reedbed of the same total area. wetness, length of rotation, the amount of However, some species, notably the litter and the degree of clearance. Cutting larger colonial species such as purple takes around 15% of the time, gathering heron, spoonbill and great white egret, and/or burning 85%. The operation is very but also Savi’s warbler, favoured large labour intensive and can only realistically areas of reed and may be considered be used on small areas of reedbed. On “interior” reedbed birds rather than average, reserves will only manage to cut “exterior” edge specialists. The reason around 3 hectares each winter with hand- for edge preference may be connected held machines. with food availability and/or predation. There is a variation in reed height and Does this traditional mowing density across an edge, and differences management hold succession? in invertebrate species, abundance and A traditional “conservation” cutting availability. Further to this, reed stubbles rotation may be between 7-15 years. will attract a number of non-reedbed birds This type of management is largely such as snipe, water pipit and ducks. undertaken under the assumption that it will hold or slow natural succession. In Bearded tits, for example, favour a mix practice, the effect on succession is likely of older and younger reed, with plenty of to be minimal in most circumstances. If wet edges, and have been seen to decline it does slow succession, the scale of the where cutting ceases. At Blacktoft Sands, work is only suited to smaller reedbeds. a declining bearded tit population has In addition, there is also a serious health been successfully restored by employing and safety issue related to RSI and back a rotational cutting regime creating complaints with hand-held machines. different age mosaics of reed with a Severe restrictions are likely to apply high degree of reed/water interface. This in the future, making many of these provides a range of feeding opportunities machines obsolete. throughout key periods.

Does it have other ecological benefits? Reed cutting over the longer rotations There is plenty of evidence to show that dictated by traditional conservation there are fewer breeding birds, such management may therefore not be as reed and sedge warblers, within cut as effective for slowing succession as areas of reed in the following summer claimed, while short rotation cutting may (eg Baldi and Moskat 1995). On the face not be as bad as claimed, being a means of it, it is obvious – there are no reeds of increasing structural variation in a to nest in until they grow again. Cutting reedbed. It further follows that a carefully affects small mammal populations, with designed rotational pattern of cutting virtually none persisting in the short can benefit a variety of species, but also term after management but recovery have a minimum effect on “interior” is relatively rapid, especially if refuges reedbed birds, mammals and key reedbed are left (Perrow and Jowitt 2003). The invertebrates. Differing cutting patterns same may be assumed for invertebrate may benefit different species.

30 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed managementt

Commercial reed cutting – is there a Larger-scale management by conflict? Professional reed cutters may be machines employed for several reasons: a) to take a short rotation (annual or biennial - single/ There has been investigation into a double wale) commercial cut, b) to take number of different machines capable of a longer-term rotation “conservation” large-scale management. The following cut, with either burning or removal, or c) options are currently available: summer cutting to achieve plant diversity or for ditch management. The benefits of The Aquaclear “Truxor” working with professional cutters include: This machine is now regularly used at a number of reedbed sites. It is essentially • for longer term sustainability and a floating cutter, using a broad cutter bar perhaps some income, that can be raised or lowered. A rake • to bring conservation together with attachment can be quickly fitted. Other local people/industry, and attachments can also be used on the • to use their professional expertise and machine. It is easily transported on a skill to get a job done efficiently. trailer towed by a Land Rover and works most efficiently in a water depth of 30-50 The potential conflicts are seen as: cm. The Truxor costs around £600 per day to hire including operator. • a perceived loss of control, • the availability of cutters, Early estimates suggested that the • problems with site access, and Truxor (operated by a contractor) could • conflict over the timing and area of cut a hectare of reed in about 40 hours cutting. (250m2/hr) for a price of £2-3,000/ha. Detailed costings prepared during work There appears to be a view amongst at Ham Wall in 2004 varied between some conservation managers 166 m2/hr (£3,700/ha) and 62 m2/hr that commercial reed cutting and (£9,900/ha), with the greatest costs conservation do not mix. Clearly some on a compartment of 8-year old reed conflicts do exist, notably over the extent with dense litter. By contrast, staff at of cutting and the management of water Minsmere calculated work rate and costs levels, but perhaps we are asking the to vary from 275 m2/hr (£2,400/ha) to wrong questions. In our larger, new 187m2/hr (£3,500/ha). Clearance of 5m reedbeds, a variety of conditions will wide ditches was calculated at between exist. Commercial cutting could create £240 and £625 per km. structural diversity in some of the drier areas, with single/double wale cutting being implemented over periods of 6-7 (RSPB) Graham White years, before being moved to a new patch. Such an approach could achieve both structural and successional benefits.

How much reed can you cut annually without damaging the conservation value? A study in The Netherlands (van de Winden 2003) found that “exterior” reedbed birds only declined significantly when 50% or more of the reed was cut in any year. Jose and Hawke (1996) suggest similar proportions as a compromise between conservation and commercial interests. Therefore, with conservation as the priority, removal of up to 30% of the reed annually would seem unlikely to present problems. However, the cutting pattern is important in creating the high degree of desired edge habitat. The Aquaclear “Truxor”

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 31 The varying costs need to be evaluated maintenance as well as minor restoration carefully, not only against the condition projects. It is particularly useful where of the area to be cleared (notably the land access to the reedbed is impossible. amount of litter and the distance it needs to be moved) but also the end result. The Softrak Where the Truxor is working in ample The Softrak is a multi-purpose, rubber- water, the cutting and raking operations tracked all terrain vehicle, with a very are liable to be quicker. However, when low ground pressure (1.2 psi). Provision working in water of around 30 cm depth, for front or rear-mounted 3-point linkage the machine retains some contact with allows ancillary machines eg a flail, to be the underlying bed. This increases its operated. Although not amphibious, it speed and power but also crushes and can cope with very wet ground, although breaks up rhizomes, and in consequence, cutting in such conditions may be slow. increases the rake-up time and overall The basic machine costs £40,000. cost. This action is likely to set back the reedbed succession significantly and As with other machines, cutting rates vary the costs should be compared more with the ground conditions. At Ham Wall, with restoration techniques such as bed an average cutting rate is one hectare lowering rather than management that of reed in about 40 hours (250 m2/hr). is more regular. At Ham Wall, open areas However, wetter, denser sections take of water that lasted up to 10 years were up to four times as long. By contrast, created by deliberately damaging the drier, sparser reed at Radipole Lake was rhizome layer as the reeds were cut. The cut much more quickly. The Softrak is Truxor may therefore have more flexibility a flexible machine capable of dealing than currently appreciated, with depth of with drier, older stands of reed typical water being critical to the management of later stages of succession. It has the objectives. Although there are concerns distinct advantage of collecting as it cuts, that the Truxor lacks power and is not however, when using the single chop robust enough for the job, and disposal forager on the front, there is a tendency of the arisings after raking is another to suck up water if it is operating in wet issue, this has proved to be a versatile conditions. Repeated tracking to remove machine for regular reed and ditch the arisings requires a firm access route. An attachment that cuts and bundles reed is currently being trialled.

A new 120hp Softrak (£145,000) is currently being trialled (2013). It will have rubber tracks and cleats and will be very suitable for soft and delicate ground. Steve Hughes (RSPB) However, the cutter head takes a smaller cut width of 1800 mm and so will require more passes. The collection bin at 11m3 is bigger than the current 65hp machines, but not as large as the Pisten Bulley.

The new ELHO DC 1700 double chop forage harvester (£19,000) is similar to the single chop harvester which is currently used on the 65 hp machine. One downside of these cutters is their tendency to suck water as well as the cut material, which is not desirable if the material is later going to be used for straight combustion. However, this is not such a consideration if the material is later used for anaerobic digestion or combustion after hydrothermal treatment.

A reed cutter bundler and powered trailer The Softrak is also currently being trialled. This will

32 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Seiga Harvester not only give the capability of cutting reedbed sites. Most UK sites are likely to reed for thatching, but also to cut it in be too small and intricate for it. a form which can then be stacked in bundles and air dried. It therefore offers The Olympia mower binder an alternative way for it to be stored, so Olympia mowers are the favoured that it could be later used for straight machines for reed cutters due to their combustion. cutting and bundling ability. They have a 9 hp diesel Lombardini engine, pedestrian The Seiga Harvester operated, with a mowing width of 1.37 The Seiga is a self-propelled amphibious m. The weight is 435 kgs. The Olympia machine with a 3 m long reciprocating can work in up to 9cm of water but blade mounted on a cargo rig with a deck requires reasonable ground conditions. area of 4 m x 3 m and a capacity of 1-2.5 It can cut 1,000 bundles a day (0.75 ha). tons. Two or three people are required Like the Seiga, it can only cope with beds to operate the machine. It is capable of up to 4 years since previous cutting. cutting and tying around 1500 bundles

of reed daily (1-1.5ha). A low-loader is (RSPB) Graham Whitee required to transport it between sites and a movement order is required.

The 6-wheeled Seiga Harvester is a specialised and efficient reed cutter, which works best on flattish, firm ground in large single/double wale reedbeds. It is unsuitable for reed stands over 4 years since previous cutting as the accumulated litter causes problems for the blade and bundling mechanisms. Although amphibious and with low ground pressure (<1.5psi), it appears that this blade/rig combination would not be ideal in very wet sites. The Seiga may hold succession where single/double wale is employed but will not reverse succession, nor remove litter. The Seiga may only be suitable for extensive flat Olympia mower binder

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 33 Graham White (RSPB)

Pisten Bully cutting rush

The Pisten Bully hours cutting time to cut and remove 2 Initial trials with the Pisten Bully hectares. On average it took the machine Greentech, which is a 330 hp machine, 30 minutes to fill its 11m3 bin, haul and have been conducted at Ham Wall in tip the material. In these dense areas, dense 15-year old reed with a deep the reed litter of over a foot deep proved litter layer. The machine was using to be one of the biggest challenges for a Kemper header (typically used for the cutting head. In these areas another harvesting maize) to cut, chop and cut may be required, once the site has collect the material into 2 cm size dried out and the litter oxidized a little, pieces. The cutting width is 3 m. The to pick up the remainder of the material. material was collected in its 11m3 bin In the case of rejuvenation areas a which was hauled using the Pisten Bully degree of stubble and litter may not be to a site 630 m away. The small chop problematic, but for shorter rotational size, desirable for bioenergy afteruse, cutting this would probably need to be meant that more material could be fitted removed. However different cutting into the bin in one haul. Undertaking attachments are gong to be trialled, with this operation it took approximately 9 the thought that the most suitable one

34 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management can then be selected for specific site suction, which means that limited water conditions. Thought is also going into is collected and the moisture content whether a attachment to rake the litter of the material is controlled. However can be designed, for the litter either then from the initial trials undertaken this to be removed and possibly used for header seems to get jammed if taken Anaerobic Digestion (depending on its too low into dense litter and to get a properties) but more likely composted, or clean cut tends to leave stubble and even left on site in a designated area for litter behind. However as mentioned for the benefit of invertebrates. bioenergy purposes it may be that two operations are required. However other If removing the biomass for bioenergy, it cutting heads are to be trialled, so most may be that be that a couple of passes appropriate can be selected for specific over the ground are required executing site conditions. different operations. This largely depends on the results of the analysis currently The machine currently under trial has being undertaken on each of the biomass rubber tracks with metal cleats, this have types and what they are capable of being pros and cons, excellent for substrates used for. which aren’t delicate, as the metal cleats provide the capability of being able to pull Reconditioned Greentech machines in the machine out of soft areas, reducing 2013 cost £109,000 and a second hand the risk of getting stuck. However the Champion Kemper cutting head costs in aggressive nature means that they are the region of £20,000. This header is a more likely to cause damage. Rubber precision chop and is capable of chopping tracks and rubber cleats are available the material from 30 mm down to 4 mm, and are going to be trialled which would which means that it has the versatility be more suitable for softer and delicate to present the material in the necessary substrates, but also for smaller areas, form required for the selected after use. when frequent turning is often necessary. The Kemper head feeds the standing The ground pressure of the machine material in to the chopping mechanism without the cutting head is 1.4 psi, through rollers, rather than through compared to the Softrak at 1.2 psi.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 35 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Cut reed for thatching.

What do we do in the UK, there are questions about the viability of the UK industry, with cutters with the reed cuttings? struggling to compete against cheap Disposal of the cuttings is a key issue. imported reed (due to reduced transport At the present time, most cut material and labour costs) from eastern Europe. is burnt, with some stacked to rot. However, the UK industry is trying hard This does not send out a positive to maintain its position and maintain message to members/visitors or to local “heritage” links between the cutter the general public and is not desirable and the thatcher. Only 20% of the UK due to the release of emissions and demand is met locally; it would require carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. an additional 2,000 ha of cut reed to As larger reedbeds are created, the meet the demand. problem will increase. A current project (2013), supported by the Department of Where reed can be cut locally to supply Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is thatchers, the operation may be more looking into the conversion of wetland viable. However, the availability of cutters biomass into bioenergy. This project has outside East Anglia is an issue. For furthered knowledge of the opportunities example, there is a growing demand for for positive use of the material. thatch in the south-west, yet no local Consideration may be given to the supply. Discussions between reserve following uses. managers and thatchers may help resolve this by developing new local Commercial crop working arrangements. The taking of a commercial crop of reed, for thatching or other end-uses, is the Composting traditional use of reed. This requires a The possibility of composting material is short-term rotational cut, but may be actively being considered, notably at Ham rotated around a reedbed by undertaking Wall. There are numerous techniques a restoration cut and then a number of for composting material, including “open years of single/double wale. A hectare windrow” and “in vessel”. The most of reedbed may produce around 1,000 common concern with the operation is bundles of thatching reed, which may be the possible by-products, such as smell, sold for c£2 a bundle. Although there is bio-aerosols and leachate. These by- an increasing demand for reed as thatch products are commonly associated with

36 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management open windrows, where the material is laid machine. For windrow composting, in rows, which are turned regularly and infrastructure such as a 50 m x 50 m of are “open” to the air. However, in the “in accessible hard standing, settlement vessel” method, the material is put into a pit for run-off, and means of disposing container or bag. An energy source is then of and recycling water back into the needed to aerate the material regularly, process, will need to be constructed. the equivalent to the turning carried out For “in vessel” composting, an area 80 with open windrows. m x 20 m of accessible solid ground is needed, no run-off needs to be catered The location of the composting site will for and no water is needed. largely depend on the method used. There are restrictions on the location Ideally, the composted product could be of an open windrow-composting site in used and even sold as a soil conditioner. relation to dwellings and work places, A range of waste materials has been due to the by-products. For “in vessel” used at Ham Wall without much variation composting proximity to neighbours in the product. Initially at Ham Wall, is not an issue, due to the lack of by- bagging was undertaken by working products. There is potentially also scope with a neighbouring peat processor. for this type of process to be carried Latterly, people have been encouraged out on-site near to where the material is to bring their own bags to fill. Careful being produced. consideration is required when working with the peat industry but it also allows The open windrow process would be opportunities for highlighting important best undertaken by a contractor who has sustainability messages. Results from mobile units that can be moved around. Ham Wall suggest that sales from each Once the material had been shredded, batch come close to covering the cost of turning could be undertaken with a front the process. However, larger operations loader, Hymac or equivalent. “In vessel” will have a better chance of recouping can also be done by a contractor, but also their costs than smaller ones. by reserve staff, as it is a straightforward operation once a bagging machine There is a lot of legislation concerning has been acquired. A machine would composting. On the scale that would be be required to move material to the required on reserves, it is possible that a composting site and load the bagging licence would not be required. However, RSPB

Ham Wall’s conservation arising project. Specialist machinery is creating and filling a large bag with cut reed and rush to create compost for horticultural use.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 37 this legislation is due to change very the best suited cutting head and then soon, reducing the amount you can legally the correct tracked machine with the compost at one time, without a licence, required power capability once the after from 1,000 cubic metres to 300 tonnes. It use has been selected. However trials is predicted that a reedbed may produce are also being undertaken looking at 600 cubic metres from 1 ha. The need for sustainable methods for drying cut reed planning permission is not cut and dried, so that it can be converted into energy and will largely depend on the method through combustion. But cutting reed of composting that we seek to employ. in a wet form for straight combustion is Planning permission would be required to not going to be energy efficient: rather, install permanent infrastructure such as a more energy will be expended to dry the hard standing needed for open windrow material as it burns and so the calorific composting. The key is discussion value is much reduced. with the local planning authority and Environment Agency. Storage of material once cut is also an important consideration, again Biofuel mostly in relation to moisture content, The use of reed material as a biofuel has deterioration and suitability for the been investigated, notably at Old Moor desired after use. Storage can come nature reserve, where a wood-burning in many forms and does not have boiler heats the offices and visitor centre. to be expensive or permanent. The Conversion of the reed into a suitable current DECC project is trialling AgBag form for burning is a key issue, but storage systems for both storage and pelletising or processing into large bales compaction of dry material, together with are possible options. Moisture content the ability to dry material via perforated is important, but will decline in standing pipes for the circulation of air. Agbags are reed to below 20% (suitable for burning) large plastic sealed bags, typically 3 x 3 by January-February. Although there are x 50 m, within which moisture content remaining issues with the technology, can be controlled through the insertion of including the ash quantity and the silicon pipes and circulation of air. As Agbags are content of the reeds, suitable burners not permanent structures and common are available. Another problem is the cost agricultural practice, planning permission of any transportation of the material and is not required. Bags do not require hard there are currently very few plants in the standing, but can be placed merely on UK capable of making biofuel pellets. firm ground. However, mobile pelleting mills may be the answer. Reedbeds can produce 2-5 Straight combustion of reed through tonnes of reed per hectare per annum. briquetting and pelleting has often had Reed cut and processed into bales may a bad reputation, due to emissions and be increasingly in demand from power by-products. However some of these are stations, with current values at £27-45 misconceived and it largely depends on per tonne. Research and development how and what the material is burnt in. continues, and it is hoped that at some The new emission standards introduced stage in the future it may be possible to for the Renewable Heat Incentive now develop a system whereby reed is cut, means that all new biomass boilers are processed and used as biofuel within a adapted to be able to combust material single site. to the necessary standards. These boilers are equipped with an oxygen Straight combustion metre that monitors the flue gases to Current trials are looking at the enable the correct amount of oxygen conversion of reed into a combustible to be imputed so reducing the chance fuel through the production of briquettes, of flue gases discharging emissions, but also as loose chopped material, but providing enough oxygen to enable loaded directly into a biomass boiler. efficient combustion. These boilers can When using reed for straight combustion deal with a number of different fuel types it is essential that consideration is given and forms, from pellets, loose material to the harvesting and collection method to briquette wafers and are loaded from so that the material is received with the a storage hopper via an auger. This is most appropriate moisture content. This adapted for different fuel types, with again indicates that the need to select overload protection, if the system clogs

38 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management then the auger reverses to free the • Pressfluid - full of soluble blockage. Material can be burnt in a raw nutrients, that potentially cause foraged state; this is due to be trialled at problematic emissions West Sedgemoor in a Guntamatic boiler. • Press cake – the press solids Briquettes have the advantage over reduced in nutrient. pellets in that they are more of a flexible fuel and can be used in both domestic • The press fluid is loaded into an and commercial boilers. The added anaerobic digester, which generates advantage of briquetting compared to gas, put through a combined heat and the use of loose material is the action of power unit to generate power for the compaction that enables the material to briquetting process. be reduced down six-fold, which means it • The press cake is dried through excess is more efficient to store and move. heat off the biochar process and then combined with reed biochar and Mobile briquetters are now operated by woodchip before briquetting into a high contractors and are able to cope with calorific value briquette. material of up to a peak of 30% moisture • As part of the process reed is content, but the desirable level is 20% or biocharred, through a charcoaling less. If briquetted at the higher moisture process, from which the excess heat is content, the briquetting process will used to dry the press cake. reduce moisture, but then produce a briquette not so dense and with not such Once again these briquettes are to be a high calorific value. The mobile nature trialled as wafers in multifuel boilers as means that material can be processed part of the DECC project. on site and loose material does not have to be hauled. Mobile storage as Having the two forms of briquettes mentioned above also works well for this being produced as part of the project will conversion approach. enable direct comparisons to be drawn between the two products, particularly Calorific value of reed is comparable in relation to calorific value and the to other combustible material and will production of emissions. typically deliver over 5 dried tonnes per hectare. Biochar Biochar is a method of charcoaling and Combustion after can be used to process the material hydrothermal treatment before briquetting. This reduces the This process is the conversion of material bulk density of the material increases into briquettes once it has undergone a the calorific value of the briquette. Kilns number of treatments. Although it does currently have small capacity and as a involve more complicated processing result could be labour intensive to load. it does offer more flexibility and offers However, trials are being undertaken a solution which will cope with varying as part of the DECC project, during materials of various moisture contents. which reed will be biochared and This conversion process is being trialled then briquetted, with the excessive at Insh Marshes this winter, with initial heat produced by the kiln used to dry results being presented by the end of material. Biochar is also considered to March 2014. This process involves the be a high quality soil conditioner, which following stages: if treated in this way is a form of carbon sequestration. However, further work • cutting and collection of green material needs to be undertaken on the long term • storage of material through effects of adding char to soils of silaging,(through plastic wrapping of different types. bales, through Agbags, or through conventional on-farm means in a sealed Anaerobic digestion silage pit) to maintain the maximum Anaerobic digestion can be used for potential for biogas production. processing green/freshly harvested • depending on the moisture content, material, with dry reed currently water is added to the harvested being trialled. Anaerobic digestion is material before screw pressing, from the digestion of material in anaerobic which two products are collected: conditions to produce biogas, which is

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 39 then harvested and either directly fed vegetation such as winter common reed. into the gas grid or converted through This is going to be attempted through the a combine heat and power plant to use of ultrasound and enzymes. produce electricity and heat. This process deals with green material well, but may Biodiversity benefits of stacked reed struggle with material of a high lignin Litter-heaps in wetlands are well known content such as common reed, which the to be valuable habitats, for example for bugs and invertebrates struggle to break specialist invertebrates and reptiles such down due to its cell structure. as grass snakes. Reed litter heaps can support an impressive abundance and Anaerobic digestion of wetland biomass diversity of invertebrates, even in mid is yet to be really trialled in the UK and winter. These invertebrates include litter- the DECC project will enable such trials heap specialists (including some of high to be undertaken with initial results conservation value) and more generalist to be available by the end of March wetland species using the heaps as 2014. Anaerobic digestion is a process hibernation sites above the flooding level. commonly used to process grass rich The best heaps for invertebrates should in sugars, purposely grown maize, farm be added to year after year to provide waste, such as slurry, or food waste. The a continuity of habitat from fresh outer biogas potential of wetland vegetation, layers to well-composted inner cores. A particularly reed, needs to be explored. mix of vegetation appears to be better It is thought that reed cut early as part than pure reed. Finally, it seems best to of a summer cutting programme will create tall domes rather than lower ridge- have better biogas potential than reed shaped heaps. cut during the winter once it has died back, which is the typical time for a conservation cut. However as part of Management by burning the installation being done for the DECC project trials are being undertaken on Burning is a traditional management methods for the breaking down and technique undertaken in late winter when destroying cell structure of woody the reed is dead and dry. Burning may be used to remove already cut and raked material, or to remove standing reed. The technique is well described in Hawke and Jose (1996). Currently, burning appears to be avoided as a regular technique by (most but not all) conservation managers, although it is regularly used as a restoration technique by reed cutters. It retains a negative association with loss of reedbed invertebrates. Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com) Ernie Janes

Research indicates that large scale burning will have an effect on the breeding birds in the following summer (Baldi and Moskat 1995), but in this it is no different from cutting. Regarding invertebrates, it is clear that burning will remove stem-dwelling species and have a varying effect on the litter fauna, depending on the severity of the burn. However, there appears to be no literature that shows an impact worse than cutting if the burn is carefully controlled. Ditlhogo et al (1992) showed that burning small plots had no long- term detrimental effect on invertebrate populations as rapid re-colonisation occurs from unburned areas. Burning reed

40 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter three: reedbed management

Cowie et al (1992) showed that burning pattern of habitat renewal. However, led an increased diversity of plants and management by grazing is imprecise. greater flowering and seed production It depends on the individual site of the reed itself. Burning reed is characteristics and the type of grazing also known to increase early shoot animal used. It may be beneficial to use a emergence and density (Haslam 1969) combination of animals, eg ponies, cattle, and assists the dominance of reed (van sheep, deer, as each has its own grazing der Toorn and Mook 1982). The precise characteristics. Natural grazing can rarely effect may depend on timing, frequency ever be totally “hands-off” as it requires and water regime. large areas of land supporting a diverse range of habitat, and where these Therefore, the effects of burning to conditions are not met, is likely to lead to restore older reedbed may be no worse a “boom and bust” cycle as the number than comparable methods. However, of herbivores overwhelms the resource there would be limited successional gain and then crashes. without combining this with other forms of management. As a carefully controlled The “blue-zone” of continental wetlands, operation over small areas within a longish a transitional habitat where the annual rotational management, and ensuring water regime allows summer grazing adequate re-colonisation potential, there before winter flooding, may provide a seems little to dissuade land managers dynamic and productive reedbed edge. against burning as a cost-effective tool It can provide an important spawning within a reedbed restoration plan. area for amphibians or fish. The habitat may also support birds such as breeding waders and crakes. Management by grazing Grazing of reedbeds, ideally combined Grazing of wetlands, including reedbeds, with water level control, is a potentially is still a relatively new technique in the valuable tool for the maintenance of early UK. However, it is a widely used method succession reedbed and diverse habitat of management on the continent. A mosaics. distinction can be made between

“natural” grazing and “seasonal” grazing. Wildlife TrustNorfolk Natural grazing is based on the principle of year-round grazing, with carrying capacity determined by times of food scarcity, generally late winter. The animals develop and retain a social structure, which brings with it knowledge of the terrain (location of water, location of food sources, swimming routes to higher refuge areas). This creates a natural mosaic of habitat, abundant growth in summer but eaten back in winter. In seasonal grazing, the number of animals relates to the maximum amount of food to be removed. The grazing density is generally much higher than natural grazing and habitat mosaics do not develop.

Summer seasonal grazing by cattle will convert a reedbed to grass pasture in 3-4 years at relatively low grazing densities (c0.5/ha), however, natural grazing over larger areas will see reedbed grazed seasonally, mostly in winter/spring but also in relation to water levels. The Dutch frequently combine natural grazing with water level control to produce a cyclical Highland cattle grazing wet reedbed, Hickling Broad.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 41 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

42 Chapter four: reedbed restoration c Bed lowering c Reedbed rejuvenation c Conclusions

Restoration by The number of booming male bitterns bed lowering increased from two in 1990 to 10 in 2005. Bed lowering is a technique that involves The average cost for bed lowering is the removal of the surface layers of c£10,000 per ha, however, work may reed litter, promoting a strong growth not need to be repeated for a good from the rhizomes. It may however, be number of years with the area being a deeper excavation, removing the litter allowed to progress through a natural and rhizome, and returning to open water. succession. It was initially thought that Bed lowering by excavation reverses the effect of bed lowering would last 30 succession, is relatively quick, not labour years, although it is now evident that intensive and the result can create a bittern usage of the lowered cells has varied open water/reed mix. reduced after 15 years as litter levels have built up again. In theory, rotational Bed lowering has been particularly bed lowering around a site would allow successful at Minsmere in increasing a range of successional stages. The the bittern population and is described principal drawback is the disposal of the in detail in White et al (2006). Over the arisings, particularly in floodplains, which course of five winters, 1994-1999, the bed would become increasingly difficult in levels of nearly 50 ha of reedbed were successive rotations. In very old reedbeds lowered. Embankments and water control with poor quality reed, it is likely that bed structures were installed. In each section, lowering will result in the reed dying. In 0.2-0.5 m of reed litter and rhizome were such circumstances, re-planting of reed scraped back and the material used to may be required after the removal of the form low bunds. Within each cell, ditches accumulated litter. Such techniques have were re-profiled and pools were created. been used in The Netherlands. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Bed lowering works at Minsmere.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 43 Reedbed rejuvenation Re-flooding will result in a highly productive early successional wetland The use of periodic drying-out through that can be allowed to progress to water level control, combined with reedbed again. By varying these factors intensive grazing, to set back natural around the site, ideally by having at least succession should be considered as a two compartments with alternating means of creating and managing habitat water regimes, it should be possible diversity. Cutting with larger machines to maintain the overall proportions of and burning should also be seen as part early-late successional habitat. Individual of this process. The precise method “compartments” may be allowed to of removing reed during the dry phase develop over a number of years (20+) will depend on the characteristics of before drying, grazing and re-flooding. individual sites. The resulting early succession wetlands will bring both biodiversity benefit and visual appeal (attracting large numbers of waders and ducks) before moving back to reedbed.

This technique is being trialled at Ham Wall in Somerset. Water levels in the oldest reed compartment were lowered Reedbed rejuvenation – diagrammatic time-line of between 2006 and 2012, although it habitat and management was a challenge to keep the water low enough in wet seasons. During this period the reed was variously cut or Time-line Habitat type Management grazed. This resulted in a short, marshy (years) Techniquue grassland of around 6 ha in extent. The dry conditions also allowed some re- 0 profiling of ditches and pools. The area Old reedbed Drain was re-flooded in late 2012 and was immediately used by large numbers of waders, particularly snipe, and by 3 Wet grassland Cut and graze wildfowl, grebes, herons and egrets, as and fen well as attracting several rare birds. 6 Good numbers of wildfowl broods were noted in the following summer. It is Open water Re-flood expected the area will return to wet 9 reedbed within five years. The length Young and Estabish a cutting of time of both the dry period and the developing reedbed regime intervals between dry periods to gain maximum benefit is perhaps uncertain 12 • Varied rotational and will be clarified by further trials. cutting The technique is now being extended to trials at Lakenheath Fen and Minsmere. 15 • Pool and ditch edge management 18

21

24

27

30 Old reedbed Drain

44 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter four: Reedbed restoration Graham White (RSPB) Graham White Graham White (RSPB) Graham White

The Ham Wall rejuvenation project during the dry phase (top) before and after re-flooding took place in 2012.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 45 Conclusions • Management on tricky wet sites, both large and small, and requiring Is management of reedbeds required an amphibious machine. Many new at all? Without management, natural reedbeds in ex-mineral workings fall succession will progress, so some form into this category. of management will be required at some stage if the reedbed is to be retained. A management strategy. However, with the creation of new and If two issues are identified - succession larger reedbeds, the current small-scale, and structure - a hierarchical labour intensive and costly management management strategy develops. practices undertaken on many reedbed At the upper level, a programme of nature reserves are clearly unsustainable. management, probably rotational, There is a mismatch between the maintaining a range of successional amount of management that will be states within the site is required. A lower required and the ability to achieve it. New level of management will principally be methods, ideas and/or equipment are involved with habitat structure, adding needed. In the larger sites, small-scale a finer habitat variation into the broader works will need to be replaced with mosaic. This may involve opening up larger-scale, more dynamic management, pools, ditches or other open areas. It may perhaps using water levels and other be for specific biodiversity gains or it may measures to set succession back. be for visitor appreciation (eg sightlines, Overall, the design and establishment viewing areas, access “into” the of new sites must be carefully habitat). A third issue for consideration considered in order to accommodate is sustainability – what do we do with effective management methods. the cut vegetation? These issues are discussed below. Small-scale, rotational management by cutting is currently seen as the norm, and 1. Natural succession. The techniques is traditional. Although there are benefits used to slow natural succession will from continuing this form of management, depend on the size of the site, landform larger, more-efficient machines will be and substrate, and the ability to manage required in the future, at least on the water levels. A variety of techniques larger sites. Such traditional management should be considered. The options will is intended to hold succession, but we include cutting (but with more efficient are currently looking to develop more machines), raising water levels or bed structure within a reedbed and for that lowering (but neither are sustainable different techniques are required. long-term solutions) or periodic drying-out (reedbed rejuvenation). All these options Reedbed sites are variable, from very require careful thought concerning the wet with much open water (eg ex-mineral implications for key species. workings) to more uniform landforms with good water level control, and from Water level control remains a crucial small sites through to the very large new element in maintaining the habitat, either reedbeds. It is clear that one technique, or in combination with other management one machine, will not be applicable to all methods, or even using dynamic sites and situations. Overall, combinations management by “catastrophic” flood of management tools are likely to be the to reverse succession. Again, it is a vital answer, depending on the local situation. element in the initial design of any new Three types of operation will be required reedbed. On small sites with good water in different circumstances: control, such rotational management may still be applicable, but is more likely to be • Cutting and removing young stands of undertaken by machine. On uncontrollable reed on dryish sites to produce an end wet sites, an amphibious machine would product or simply to create structural be required for reversing succession on diversity. larger blocks of reed where access is difficult, on islands for example. • Removing an accumulation of litter and dead reed, and perhaps young scrub, in Where it is difficult to maintain a range late succession reedbeds. These sites of conditions within one site, it may be are often wet. better to take a strategic view over a

46 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter four: Reedbed restoration cluster of sites, with different conditions 3. Sustainability. Serious consideration being maintained on different sites. should be given to the use of the cut Equally, the actual position of “new” or material. Simply burning or stacking “old” reedbed within a wetland mosaic anything but small amounts of the arisings may be irrelevant as long as there are “x” will be neither seen as acceptable practice hectares of “y” quality reedbed within a nor sustainable. Uses of reed may include given area. thatch, compost or fuel (or a combination), and it is likely that local uses will need to 2. Structure. The addition of structure be developed. Commercial reed cutting into the reedbed is a crucial part of the should not be seen as incompatible with management strategy. This may be conservation; a correct balance just needs achieved with smaller machines, but a to be achieved and it should be possible range of options beyond the walk-behind to remove up to 30% of a standing mower will need to be considered. reed crop without damage as long as On small, wet sites, an amphibious cutting patterns are considered. Such machine such as the Truxor would be end-uses need to be taken into account invaluable for creating structure, opening when designing and establishing a new ditches and pools etc. On larger sites, reedbed. grazing is a possibility. Where other habitat components of a wetland mosaic Finally, it must be remembered that such as scrub/woodland and drier reedbeds are, by their very nature, grasslands are present, “natural” low transitional habitats, so eventually they intensity grazing can be used to create will become wet woodland, another interesting reed-wet grassland interfaces important habitat for wildlife. New and “blue-zone” habitat. Commercial reedbeds must be established elsewhere cutting of reed may be used as a means to replace them, to replicate what would to create this structure. happen in a naturally functioning system. ai iln (rspb-images.com) David Tipling

Mixed wetland habitat including scrub and reedbed at Cley NWT

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 47 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

48 Chapter five: case studies Ouse Fen

Location: The Hanson-RSPB Wetland Project – complementary fen, swamp, scrub and Ouse Fen grassland habitats.

Contacts: Habitat creation at Ouse Fen is a Chris Hudson ([email protected]) now well underway and the site has the potential to be of international Technique: importance for reedbed wildlife, Reedbed design supporting some of the largest populations of bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers in the UK. All these Background species are present and growing in The Great Ouse Wetland sits at the number. Expanding populations will heart of the RSPB’s landscape-scale allow colonization of other created and conservation in the Fens, linking Ouse restored wetlands in the region and Fen with the Ouse Washes and Fen beyond. Otters and water voles are also Drayton Lakes to form a near contiguous expected to flourish alongside self- wetland, covering 3,000 ha and sustaining fish populations, rich wetland extending 40km along the Great Ouse plant communities and invertebrates. floodplain. It is an outstanding example of mineral The Ouse Fen reserve is being delivered extraction leading to habitat creation that in partnership with Hanson, and on-going benefits wildlife and people. Delivery on aggregates extraction means that the a landscape scale offers opportunities site continues to expand to a planned to demonstrate to the minerals, design. At 700 ha it is one of the largest planning and conservation sectors new wetland creation projects in Europe conservation management techniques and will, when complete, incorporate which enhance biodiversity and improve the UK’s largest reedbed alongside sustainability. Hanson

An aerial shot showing the aggregates grading plant in the foreground and completed restoration to reedbed in the background.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 49 Site Restoration and isolated pools. 20-30% of the Ouse Fen presented an outstanding wetland area. opportunity to design a ‘bespoke’ wetland of extensive reedbed and complementary In turn each of these has a finer scale habitats with carefully planned water division of habitat mosaics and large management built-in. Each phase of areas of open water. These varying extraction creates a discrete hydrological characteristics will encourage a greater compartment or ‘cell’, offering individual range of species to colonise. management flexibility and discrete hydrological control. The design is adapted to the effects of a changing climate with Site Management long term water needs met by the adjacent Future management has been carefully River Great Ouse. Each cell is from 10-40 planned into the design of the scheme. ha in size and is designed to provide a There is a strong emphasis on developing range of habitats from dry reed and scrub, the sustainable management practices to fen, reedswamp and open water. being trialed at other RSPB sites. Apart from other obvious benefits, this will also Restoration is currently carried out in two address cost-effective management on a phases. very large site.

Following this restoration methodology The second key focus is on dynamic the wetland habitat at Ouse Fen will be wetland management. The size of the divided into three key types, to create site and division into discrete hydrological a wider spectrum of complementary units does allow radical management habitats. intervention over extensive areas. Long rotations will minimise the ecological 1. Extensive wet reedbed. The optimum impact whilst ensuring that the full range design for bitterns with maximum edge of habitat types are represented on site. and diverse habitat features. This will Once a cell has been indentified as be 0.6-1.0m deep in spring and take up being in decline, water levels can be approximately 60% of the wetland area. drawn down to dry the area out and A sub-type incorporates larger blocks facilitate management. Cutting will help of reed for colonial nesting species that to restore open conditions. The use of have a preference for unbroken tracts of bespoke reed harvesting machinery in vegetation. this operation will maximize the potential value of biomass arisings. This can be 2. Drier reedbed and scrub. Blocks of followed up by grazing with cattle or reed 1-5 ha in area and 0.2-0.4m deep ponies for a period of two to five years, in spring more suited to commercial to hold reed growth back and allow fen cutting with a more even landform and and marshy/wet grassland habitats to less complexity. Occupies 10-20% of take its place. Areas managed in this the wetland area, usually on the outer way will be attractive to a wide range of edges of cells for access. species not otherwise present. After five or so years the cell would be re-wetted 3. Shallow open waters with reedfen and reedbed would quickly re-establish. surrounds. Shallow meres 1-5 ha The use of commercial reed cutting is in extent and up to 1.0m deep with the final management component. Areas extensive shallow drawdown zone. of commercial cutting will use landform Surrounded by grazed marsh 0-0.3m with more regular topography and benefit deep in spring, sub-divided by ditches from fine water level control.

50 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter five: Case studies

Phase 1: Following an agreed plan developed by the two partners, and in a large scale earth- moving operation, soils are imported from adjacent gravel extraction areas. A series of ‘islands’ are created, dissected by a convoluted network of ditches. These ditches open out into a smaller number of larger meres of 2-3 ha. In areas of ‘wet’ reedbed the islands tops sit 60-100cm below the spring water level. In areas of dryer reedbed the island tops are built up higher.

Phase 2 In the second phase cut and fill from the islands tops is distributed locally to create greater variety in the topography and form at a much smaller scale. A more complex edge can be incorporated, with a variety of bank profiles and a more intricate range of features including pools, ditches and bays. This stage of work relies upon closer supervision of experienced plant operators following simple sketches and a ‘rule of thumb’.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 51 Ham Wall numerous rare invertebrates found at Ham Wall, including the lesser silver Location: water beetle. Ham Wall’s mixture of Ham Wall, part of the Avalon Marshes habitats makes it important for wildfowl, not only during the breeding season, but Contacts: also during the winter where it supports Steve Hughes thousands of wintering wildfowl and a ([email protected]) starling roost of up to a million birds. It is a nationally important site for water voles Technique: and has a population of otters. Creation of reedbed, use of arisings, rejuvenation of reedbed habitat. Ham Wall also offers visitors an opportunity to experience habitats such as reedbed in an interactive way, Background through events and trails, which helps to Ham Wall RSPB nature reserve is part demonstrate their importance, not just of the wider Avalon Marshes wetlands, for birds but for invertebrates, mammals, a nationally important mixed wetland amphibians and plants as well. New system in the Somerset Levels and visitor facilities allow visitors to get closer Moors. Peat extraction gave the RSPB to reedbed wildlife. an opportunity to create a new reedbed site, initially to provide inland habitat for the bittern, which at the time was still Site Management struggling, and found mainly in Eastern Ham Wall was designed as a wet England on coastal sites. Work began on reedbed in order to maximize its value Phase 1, a 16ha plot, in 1995 and since for bitterns and other early succession then the reserve has grown to 231ha, the reedbed species. However, the design majority of which is reedbed. of each phase of the reedbed varied as our knowledge of the requirements of The Avalon Marshes is now one of the the bittern improved. The early phases most important areas for wetland birds had extensive blocks of reed, while the in the UK, providing habitat not only for latter phases had a greater reed/water bittern but for recent colonists such as interface and paid particular attention little bitterns and great white egrets. Ham to fish habitat. Overall, the site was Wall itself holds a third of the booming heavily constrained by low land levels bitterns in the Avalon Marshes, as well and a lack of infill. As a result there are as a pair of marsh harriers. A mobile fish generally a number of reedbed islands pass, and working with the Environment surrounded by water between 1.and Agency, means that Ham Wall now has 2metres deep. The site is designed to a developing eel population. There are operate in a number of individual cells, David Wootton David Wootton (rspb-images.com)

Aeriel view showing Ham Wall reserve.

52 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter five: Case studies most of which can be drawn down and Site Rejuvenation manipulated separately, due to the high Ham Wall’s modular design allows for flexible level of hydrological control available hydrological control, and individual cells can on site through the sluice network. be independently drawn down. This has Although this enables the water levels to allowed innovative management techniques be manipulated seasonally it does mean to be trialed on site very effectively. One that historically the reedbeds have been technique currently being trialed is the longer difficult to access or cut, as the channels term drying and re-wetting of compartments between reedbeds are very deep. as a means of ‘rejuvenating’ or restoring early successional habitat. The first phase of Recently the site has invested in a floating the site was created in 1995 and had since pontoon system called Versa-dock. Initially developed into a dense reedbed. It was designed to create floating marinas, the decided to attempt to recreate wet, open modular system clips together and enables reedbed conditions and enhance the original staff to access a larger number of the design. reedbed islands for management, and enables larger pieces of cutting machinery, The first stage of the rejuvenation was including pedestrian mowers and more to draw the water levels right down and notably the Softrak to gain access to mark out plots for different management previously difficult areas. Larger machinery techniques. There were several different and more efficient working methods now techniques to test, including cut and graze, allow around 10% of the reedbed area to cut yearly, cut once and leave, and burn. be cut annually. In the future the aim is to Each plot was the same size and the rest of have a commercial cut taken from some of the cell was managed with annual cutting the larger reedbed areas. and grazing. The intention was to remove as much reed as possible from the cell and Due to the nature of the site any arisings suppress reed re-growth so that when re- from the cutting would originally have wetting was undertaken five years later in either been left in heaps, or burnt on site, 2012-13 the area was predominantly grass however as the area cut has increased with only a small amount of reed. When the so have the arisings and as a result Ham re-wetting was complete the reed would Wall now composts a large proportion of gradually re-establish over the next two to the material. The arisings are placed in a five years, returning to a large wet reedbed. large plastic tube with a perforated pipe It is planned that additional phases of the through the centre. Once the bag is full and site will be rejuvenated in sequence. The sealed hot air is blown through the tube. process also provided the opportunity to The temperature inside the compost bag carry out some re-engineering of the ditch is enough to ensure the compost is weed system within the reedbed to increase seed free when it’s ready around 12 weeks connectivity for fish populations and the after it’s sealed. Ham Wall is involved quality of the margins. in a DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) funded project, looking at During the trial the sward in the grazed and options for making use of large quantities cut section changed dramatically from reed of conservation arisings. This project is to a more grass based vegetation and the currently in its test phase and Ham Wall is remaining areas when the cell was re- hosting one thereof the possible systems. wetted were small. The aim was that after flooding, reed would remain only around The majority of reedbed management at the margins and in a few isolated clumps. Ham Wall is undertaken during the winter Young, vigorous reed growth would then be months; however a small number of able to spread back across the compartment islands near to visitor viewing platforms over a number of years. Early indications are are also cut annually in late summer. The that the trial is progressing well. The newly aim of this work was to create a more re-wetted cell provided an excellent over diverse, open area that would attract a wintering area for large numbers of wildfowl, wide variety of birds to the area in front of a good selection of passage waders and the main visitor viewpoint. It has proved feeding areas for several species of heron popular with visitors and has also resulted and egret. The area has also provided a in an increase in the number of marginal fantastic visitor spectacle and an opportunity herbaceous plants found on these islands. to talk about large scale habitat restoration.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 53 Hickling Broad water voles, otters and rare invertebrates such as the Norfolk hawkers and Location: swallowtail butterfly. Hickling Broad, Norfolk Wildlife Trust Two different cutting regimes are Contacts: employed at Hickling Broad; within the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Hundred Acre reed bed around 40% is cut commercially and 60% conservation cut. Designations: The commercially cut reed is harvested on NNR, SSSI, Ramsar, SPA, SAC an annual basis between late December and the end of March. The water levels Technique: over the whole Hundred Acre reed bed Preservation and restoration of wetland are lowered in November to approximately habitat; commercial cutting 300mm below marsh height. This enables the machinery and cutters to work on the site whilst minimising damage to the bed. Background All the commercially cut reed is used for Until the 1960s The Broads were thought thatching roofs. Conservation cutting is to be a naturally occurring wetland, undertaken on a six to seven year rotation, however they are actually the remains of usually in January and February. By working mediaeval peat excavations1. Between with commercial cutters, NWT maintains then and the 1950s The Broads were a traditional craft which is historically managed using a mixture of grazing, important in The Broads, and enables more commercial cutting of reed and sedge to be achieved for biodiversity. for thatching, and mowing of mixed fen for feed and bedding for livestock. In the Conservation cutting is done by staff 1960s the commercial cutting was in and volunteers with pedestrian mowers decline and larger areas were being left. or strimmers, although the NWT do cut some larger areas using an Olympia reed The Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) first cutter, which cuts and binds reeds. As acquired a land holding at Hickling in 1947. with many conservation cuts, all arisings Hickling Broad is the largest expanse of are burnt on site. In order to maintain open water in The Broads system. The open water along channels, and to create open water and its surrounding wetland temporary pools, NWT also undertakes cover around 600ha. Situated in the upper small scale rotavation whilst the water stretches of the River Thurne, the reserve levels are low. Rotavating small areas is a mixture of reedbed, fen, open water, to a depth of about 15-18cm kills of the sedge beds, wet grassland and grazing rhizomes and leaves pools when the water marsh, carr woodland and acid valley levels are raised, creating ideal foraging mire. The main water supply comes from habitat for bitterns and water voles, and the Broad itself, and due to its proximity providing habitat for invertebrates and to the sea the water on the reserve is aquatic macrophytes. These shallow pools slightly brackish. also provide ideal shoaling areas for fish fry. The NWT was part of the EU Life- funded Bittern Project. This landscape The mixture of reed age at Hickling scale partnership project enabled provides a brilliant habitat for invertebrates the delivery of significant restoration by providing older, drier reed and young and improvement of Hickling Broad’s wet reed. When the Bringing Reedbeds Hundred Acre reedbed. Following these to Life project surveyed newly restored works, in 1998, Hickling Broad recorded areas at Hickling to assess the habitat its first breeding bittern for over 20 years. for invertebrates, they found that the overall numbers of invertebrate species and numbers of reedbed and wetland Management specialist Diptera and moths were very Hickling Broad’s mixture of wetland similar. Indeed, small dotted footman, reed habitats allow it to support a wide range leopard and Fenn’s wainscot moths, along of wetland species including bittern, with eight other rare or nationally scarce bearded tit and marsh harrier. In addition species, were found in the Hundred Acre to the birds it also provides habitat for reedbed at Hickling Broad2, which was

54 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter five: Case studies restored in 1998 with EU LIFE funding. • Facilitate the managed retreat of flood This area has reed cutting, low water defences in response to the effects of levels in winter and high water levels climate change on the Norfolk coast. in summer. Overall the results are heartening, as although older areas had The project will result in the creation higher invertebrate abundances and of 35ha of fen and the restoration of a more species with a high conservation further 35 hectares of fen. By creating status, they show that newly restored a more naturally functioning wetland it reedbed next to existing reedbed can will reinforce existing populations of key and will provide habitat for specialist species, such as the bittern, crane and invertebrate species. swallowtail butterfly.

The margins surrounding the blocks of The objective is to create an inundation wet reedbed which consist predominantly zone where there is a variation in water of fen and wet grassland are grazed levels during the summer. The new using a mixture of the NWT’s konik water regime is likely to produce a reed ponies and, when available, native cattle dominated wet fen. In order to create such as Highlands or redpolls, which a mosaic of fen types and diversity of again contributes to the diversity of both vegetation, grazing animals will have habitats and species found at Hickling. access to as much of the project site as possible. The creation of scrapes and the widening of existing dykes will provide Future potential and challenges areas of deeper water all year round.

Jan 2014, Hickling Wetland Project. In addition to the above on the south side of the reserve, the NWT is working in This project is the second stage in a long partnership with the Environment Agency term partnership project taking place at to create 42 ha of wetland grazing and NWT Hickling Broad NNR. This project reed bed providing compensatory, has two main aims. replacement habitat for habitat lost elsewhere in East Anglia. • Extend and enhance wetland habitats on the drained marshes at NWT Refs Hickling Broad NNR, by significantly 1. The Making of the Broads, (1960), Dr J raising water levels in order to M Lambert, Royal Geographical Society achieve favourable condition through 2. Bringing Reedbeds to Life project reconnection of the broad to the wider summary document (2011, RSPB) flood plain. Mike PageMike

Aerial shot showing Hickling Broad reserve.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 55 Minsmere Approach One of the earliest results from the UK Location: research programme into the ecology Minsmere of the Bittern was a clear link between bittern declines and seral succession Contacts: of wet reedbeds (Tyler et al. 1998). Graham White. Those reedbeds with high levels of E-mail: [email protected] encroachment by carr and scrub, and those with a high coverage of plant Date of featured work: species other than reed, were the ones Restoration of an old, drying reedbed that were losing their bitterns. Work at Minsmere was therefore designed to Technique: reverse this process and to restore areas Restoration of an old, drying reedbed of the reedbeds to an early successional state. The management works were partly funded by a LIFE project (‘Urgent Background Conservation Action for the bittern Minsmere RSPB nature reserve is located Botaurus stellaris in the United Kingdom’). on the Suffolk coast. Reedbeds became established when the coastal grazing In the winter of 1990/91, sluice and marshes were flooded for defence bank works were carried out to allow purposes in 1940. The development of the water levels to be raised in the reed cover must have been rapid as reedbeds, and a programme of reed there were already extensive reedbeds cutting and scrub coppicing on a seven when the site was acquired by the RSPB year rotation was established in part of in 1947. Since then the reedbeds have the area. It was soon realised that more been managed by a combination of reed drastic action was needed if suitably cutting, scrub clearance, water level wet conditions were to be restored manipulation and, initially, small scale in a significant area of the site. After spraying to maintain open pools, but much consultation and planning, a latterly the management has become major programme of reedbed lowering increasingly mechanised. In 1990, the (Figure 7.6) was initiated in the winter of reedbed habitat extended to 157 ha. 1994/95. Over the course of five winters the bed levels of 48.75 ha of reedbed The earliest record of breeding bitterns were lowered, and embankments and at Minsmere was of four to six booming water level control structures installed. In males in 1946, only six years after the each section 0.2–0.5 m of reed rhizome site was allowed to flood. Numbers and peat were scraped back and the gradually increased to 13 males in material used to form low bunds. Within 1976, making Minsmere one of the key each cell ditches were re-profiled and breeding sites in the UK at the time. pools created. In total 10.8 km of ditches However, from then on there was a were re-profiled and 8.1 ha of pools steady decline to the low point of a created. Where possible, ditches were single booming bird in 1991. dug to follow historic channels.

Reed re-establishment from the rhizomes left in each section was rapid with reasonable cover present in most cases after two and in the rest by four years.

Results At Minsmere the monitoring of bitterns is

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) particularly intensive with the first and last dates of booming recorded, as well as the numbers of booming birds. In addition, an assessment of the numbers of females with nests and young is made, although, particularly in the early years, not all nests Bed lowering may have been located. Females whose

56 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Chapter five: Case studies nests failed early during incubation were also likely to be missed.

The numbers of booming males increased from one or two in 1990 to 10 in 2005. A pronounced shift to earlier first booming from around 15 March in 1990 to 4 February in 2000 has accompanied this. The number of females with nests and young has also increased greatly to six in 2000 and eight in 2004 and 2005. The lowered areas have also been utilised by booming, feeding and nesting birds – usually from three to four years after the management works. In recent years, numbers have levelled at at 9-10 boomers and four to six nests each year. The Minsmere Reserve showing the extent of the main reedbeds, the zones subject to periodic cutting and the areas Although bed lowering was undertaken lowered between 1991 and 2000. at Minsmere for the benefit of bitterns, recent survey work undertaken through will have provided increased areas in the Bringing Reedbeds to Life project which to forage. Secondly, by creating indicates that a number of other taxa pools and dykes there are improved also benefited from the work, including conditions for the main prey of breeding rare invertebrate species and aquatic bitterns at Minsmere – eels, rudd and macrophytes. By undertaking works nine-spined sticklebacks. Although over a number of years the impact on there is no quantitative data to compare non avian taxa can be minimised and the fish populations before and after the benefits outweigh any risks. works, the lowered areas were rapidly colonised by good numbers of rudd and sticklebacks. Lessons learned It’s clear that the management works The provision of wet reed from January were responsible for the increase in may also have contributed to earlier bittern numbers. Over the same decade, booming and bringing the females into numbers of bitterns remained stable or breeding condition earlier. This gives the declined at other Suffolk coastal sites females more chance to relay if a nest and there was no trend in the dates of fails, and has also enabled some birds to first booming. The results were also rear two broods in a season. direct evidence to support the studies that suggest seral succession was, and The traditional long-term management of continues to be, a key problem in many reedbeds is by cutting and this, together bittern breeding sites. The management with the high spring water levels required at Minsmere returned the reedbeds to to grow good quality reed, helps to an early successional stage and bitterns slow the rate of litter build-up and scrub responded rapidly. Evidence from radio encroachment. However, bed lowering tagged young birds shows that the may be a viable option for setting back increase in males at least was fuelled the succession at degraded sites. The by local productivity and recruitment. disposal of spoil will be a constraint and The situation was less clear for females the speed of litter build up on the lowered but it is possible that new birds have areas at Minsmere has indicated that been attracted to Minsmere by the further works may be required after 15 highly suitable habitat conditions and the years or so. increased booming activity of the males. This case study was modified and It is probable that the management updated from an article originally works have improved the conditions for published in British Wildlife Vol 12, 2000, bitterns in at least two ways. Firstly, the by Ken Smith, Geoff Welch, Glen Tyler, creation of wet reedbed and the increased Gillian Gilbert, Ian Hawkins and Graham length of reed-open water interface Hirons.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 57 References and further reading Baldi, A. and Kisbenedek, T., (1999) Gregory, RD, Wilkinson, NI, Noble, DG, Species-specific distribution of reed- Robinson, JA, Brown, AF, Hughes, J, nesting passerine birds across reedbed Procter, DA, Gibbons, DW, Galbraith, edges: effects of spatial scale and C. A., (2002), The Population Status of edge type. Acta Zoologica Academiae Birds in the United Kingdom, Channel Scientiarum Hungaricae 45 (2), 97-114. Islands and Isle of Man: an analysis of conservation concern: 2002-2007, RSPB. Baldi, A. and Kisbenedek, T., (2000) bird species numbers in an archipelago of Gilbert G, Tyler GA and Smith KW (2002) reeds at Lake Velence, Hungary. Global Local annual survival of booming male Ecology and Biogeography 9, 451-461. Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris in Britain, in the period 1990-1999. Ibis 144: 51-61. Baldi A and Moskat C (1995). Effect of reed burning and cutting on breeding Gilbert, G., Tyler, G.A. & Smith, K.W. bird communities. In Bissonette J A and (2003). Nestling diet and fish preference Krausman P R (Eds), Integrating people of Bitterns Botaurus stellaris in Britain. and wildlife for a sustainable future. Ardea 91, 35-44. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Gilbert G, Tyler GA and Smith KW (2005) Behaviour, home range size and habitat Benstead, P, Drake, M, Jose, P, use by male Great Bittern Botaurus Mountford, O, Newbold, C, Treweek, stellaris in Britain. Ibis 147: 533–543. J, (1997) The Wet Grassland Guide, Managing floodplains and coastal wet Gilbert G, Tyler GA, Dunn CJ and Smith grasslands for wildlife. RSPB KW (2005). Nesting habitat selection by Bitterns in Britain and the implications Brown A, Gilbert, G and Wotton S (2012) for wetland management. Biological Bitterns and Bittern Conservation in the Conservation. 124: 547–553. UK. British Birds 105: 58-87. Gilbert, G.,Tyler, G. A., Dunn, C.J., Cowie N R, Sutherland W J, Ditlhogo M Ratcliffe, N & Smith, K.W (2006). The K and James R (1992). The effects of influence of habitat management on the conservation management of reedbeds breeding success of the Great Bittern II. The flora and litter disappearance. Jour. Botaurus stellaris in Britain. Ibis App. Ecol. 29: 277-284. Gilbert, G., Tyler, G A, Dunn, C J, Ratcliffe, Ditlhogo M K M, James R, Laurence B R N, & Smith, K W. (2007). The influence and Sutherland W J (1992). The effects of of habitat management on the breeding conservation management of reedbeds success of the Great Bittern Botaurus I. The invertebrates. Jour, App. Ecol. 29: stellaris in Britain. Ibis 149: 53-66. 265-276. Gilbert, G., Brown, A F, & Wotton, S. Dmitrenok M, Puglisi L, Demongin L, 2010. Current dynamics and predicted Gilbert G, Polak M and Bretagnolle V vulnerability to sea-level rise of a (2006) Geographical variation, sex and threatened Bittern Botaurus stellaris age in Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris population. Ibis 152: 580-589. using coloration and morphometrics. Ibis 149: 37 – 44.

58 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife References and further reading

Graveland, J., (1998), Reed die-back, Self, M., (1999), Effective establishment water level management and the decline of reedbeds in created wetlands for of the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus wildlife. Unpublished PhD thesis, arundinaceus in the Netherlands, Ardea Cranfield University. 86 (2), 187-201. Self, M., (2003), Creating reedbeds for Hardman. C. J., Harris, D. B., Sears, wildlife: a practical guide. Unpublished J., Droy, N. (2012) Habitat associations RSPB report. of invertebrates in reedbeds, with implications for management. Aquatic Self M (2005) A review of management Conservation: Marine and Freshwater for fish and bitterns, Botaurus stellaris, in Ecosystems 22, 813–826. wetland reserves. Fisheries Management and Ecology 12: 387–394. Haslam S M (1969). The development of shoots in Phragmites australis. Annals of Tyler, G.A., Smith, K.W. & Burgess, Botany 33:695-709. D.J. (1998). Reedbed management and breeding Bitterns Botaurus stellaris in the Hawke, C.J., Jose, P.V., (1996) Reedbed UK. Biol. Cons. 86, 257-266. Management for Commercial and Wildlife Interests, RSPB. Van der Putten, W.H., (1997) Die-back of Phragmites autstralis in European Kirby, P., (2001) Habitat Management for wetlands: an overview of the European Invertebrates, RSPB. research programme on reed die-back and progression (1993-1994), Aquatic Mills et al, (1999) Reedbed creation at Botany 59 263-275. Ham Wall, RSPB report. Vulink J T and van Eerden M R (1998). Perrow, M, Holve, H., & Jowitt, A. Hydrological conditions and herbivory (1996) A review of the factors affecting as key operators for ecosystem the status of fish populations in the development in Dutch artificial emergent plant zone of wetland habitats, wetlands. In Grazing and Conservation with respect to the habitat requirements Management, Kluwer Academic of Bittern. Report to RSPB. Publishers, Dordrech.

Poulin, B., Lefebvre, G. & Mauchamp, White G, Purps J and Alsbury S (2006). A. (2002) Habitat requirements of The Bittern in Europe: a guide to species passerines and reedbed management in and habitat management. The RSPB, southern France. Biological Conservation Sandy. 107 315-325.

Sears, J, White, G, Self, M, Brown A, & Blyth, S. (2013). Bringing reedbeds to life – the wildlife, managememt and conservation of reedbeds. British Wildlife vol 25: 1-10.

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 59 Bringing Reedbeds to Life – scientific names of species mentioned in text

INVERTEBRATES First mention Brown-veined wainscot Archanara dissoluta 8 Fen wainscot Arenostola phragmitidis 8 Fenn’s wainscot Chortodes brevilinea 8 Lesser silver water beetle Hydrochara caraboides HW cs Norfolk hawker Aeshna isosceles HB cs Reed dagger Simyra albovenosa 8 Reed leopard Zeuzera pyrina 8 Rush wainscot Archanara algae 8 Silky wainscot Chilodes maritimus 8 Small dotted footman Pelosia obtusa HB cs Swallowtail Papilio machaon HB cs Twin-spotted wainscot Archanara geminipuncta 8 White-mantled wainscot Archanara neurica 8

AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES First mention Common frog Rana temporaria 10 Grass snake Natrix natrix 10 Marsh frog Pelophylax ridibunda 10

FISH First mention Eel Anguilla anguilla 9 Perch Perca fluviatilis 10 Pike Esox lucius 10 Roach Rutilus rutilus 10 Rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus 10 3 Spind Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus 11

60 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Species scientific names

BIRDS First mention Bearded tit Panurus biarmicus 12 Bittern Botaurus stellaris 3 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica 12 Coot Fulica atra 21 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 10 Crane Grus grus 12 Grasshopper warbler Locustella certhiola table Great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus 12 Great white egret Ardea alba 12 Little bittern Ixobrychus minutus 12 Marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus 12 Marsh warbler Acrocephalus palustris table Purple heron Ardea purpurea 12 Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 12 Reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus 12 Savi’s warbler Locustella luscinioides 12 Sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 12 Snipe Gallinago gallinago 30 Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia 30 Spotted crake Porzana porzana 12 Starling Sturnus vulgaris HW cs Water pipit Anthus spinoletta 30 Water rail Rallus aquaticus 12 White-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla table

MAMMALS First mention American mink Neovison vison 10 Harvest mouse Mycromys minutus 10 Otter Lutra lutra HB cs Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus 21 Water shrew Neomys fodiens 10 Water vole Arvicola terrestris 10

PLANTS First mention Reed Phragmites australis 8

Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 61 62 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife 63 CONTACT US

UK HEADQUARTERS The RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL. Tel: 01767 680551 rspb.org.uk

Cover: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England & Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 223-1478-13-14

2 Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife