What will it look like?
The Project aims to create a landscape containing a mosaic of farmed wetland habitats with extensive areas of wet grasslands grazed by cattle, sheep and other livestock. In amongst will be wet ditches, seasonal pools ('scrapes') and pockets of wet woodland and reedbed. A predominantly open landscape, with soil conditions suitable for breeding waders such as redshank, snipe, curlew and lapwing. Watercourses will be rich in wildlife supporting water voles, otters, dragonflies and aquatic plants. In the winter months flocks of waders, ducks and geese will be attracted by splashy fields near the river. Hunting barn owls quarter the fields and hedgerows all year round; occassionally marsh harriers in the summer or on passage and short eared owls and hen harriers may be seen in winter.
See the habitat and species grid below for more detailed information.
How will it be managed?
The Partnership works closely with the farming community and the local Drainage Board to understand and manage water levels in the project area, without compromising drainage needs of neighbouring areas. Farmers with HLS agreements create, restore or maintain the habitats through appropriate farming practices in a way that fits in with food production. The result is a functional, working farmed landscape which strikes a balance between production and conservation of wildlife and the landscape. Typical management activites on pasture fields will include grazing with livestock, haymaking and sward management ( such as cutting back growth of rushes or weed control). Ditch clearing and hedgerow cutting will be carried out on a rotation over several years to maintain a diversity of stages. Areas remaining in arable production may be enhanced with over-wintered stubbles followed by spring-sown crops, fallow plots for ground nesting birds, grass margins and special wildlife-friendly crops to provide game bird cover, nectar for insects and seeds for birds.
A list of Birds of Conservation Concern can be found on the RSPB web pages . Birds of Conservation Concern 2009
Sightings
If you see any interesting plants, animals or insects in the Wetland Project area then please send some details of what you saw, when you saw it and roughly where to Tim Burkinshaw the Project Officer. If you have photographs of your sighting then please feel free to submit these with the other details.
Birds Associated with Wetlands
Follow RSPB link to hear what the bird sounds like
Farmland Birds
Follow RSPB link to hear what the bird sounds like
