habitat creation | wetland management

Rivers

The River Thames and it tributaries that flow through Berkshire are managed by the Environment Agency. The Kennet and Avon Canal is managed by British Waterways. There are lots of opportunity to learn about these ancient waterways on conservation weekends in conjunction with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and also clean up campaigns and presentations from various environmental organisations. Check their websites for details on how you can get involved.

Where flowing water is involved the Environment Agency should be consulted if you suspect pollution or vandalism to a section of river. This is important as monitoring officers cannot visit suspect sites every day and are grateful to the public for any help they can give. As well as signs of Otters and Kingfishers becoming more likely to work downstream from the cleaner upper reaches of the Thames.

The Environment Agency is currently working on the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton flood Alleviation Scheme in Berkshire, a large project to alleviate seasonal flooding of the Thames basin catchment area.The scheme costing £83.5M will alleviate flooding of some 4,800 private properties, benefiting some 12,500 people, commercial premises and the M4 motorway all of which would be at risk.

Ditches

Ditches are man made features which can develop into attractive, diverse wildlife habitats. In certain parts of the country they are also important landscape features where few other boundary structures are present. They have less appeal as ponds, but are likely to attract less vandalism.

Each part of the ditch has a specific management requirement. The top of a ditch can be included as part of the grassy margin. With zones of marginal plants, submerged, and underwater aquatic plants. In some cases the sides of the ditch will need regular cutting. This should be undertaken with great care and in rotation. Trimming should preferably take place on one side only. Mowing should be delayed until August when nesting birds will have departed.

Herbicides are sometimes used to control the growth of vegetation in the ditch itself. They should be used only when necessary, and with great care. The rough grass of ditch sides can be good Barn owl hunting ground. When a hedge is besides a ditch, excessive plant growth in the ditch can be controlled by allowing the hedge to grow out over the ditch.

View a diagram example of ditch & stream management

Reedbeds

Reedbeds are a natural part of any waterbody. They help prevent erosion of banks and thus keep them stable. Reeds remove pollutants from the water and can even be used as part of sewage treatment. These plants give cover and provide a habitat for a wide range of species including, dragonflies, newts, frogs and fish fry. Certain bird species are also known to benefit as do bats. If left long enough most lakes and ponds will create their own. However, introduction of reeds can speed up this process, and stop water quality from falling, which could lead to fish and other wildlife being killed.

The reeds are grown in special fibre rolls made from coconut fibre, a waste product. Once they are a sufficient size they are transported from the nursery to their final destination. These fibre rolls are fixed into place. Eventually the roots will penetrate the rolls into the bottom of the pond or lake, then spread around the banks of the wetland.

The rolls need managing every ten years as excessive silt and reeds should be removed. Other aquatic plants and even frog spawn can be introduced around the rolls to increase biodiversity.

habitat creation | wetland management

Rivers

Ditches

Reedbeds

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