REEDBEDS AND SWAMPS
ACTION PLAN
Lead Agencies: Public Sector Environment
Agency
Voluntary Sector RSPB
1 INTRODUCTION
Swamp and tall herb
fen habitats are characterised by the fact that the water table is at or above
the soil surface for most of the year.
They tend to be botanically species-poor relative to other wetland
habitats.
Reedbeds are a
nationally scarce habitat and rely on the water table being above ground level
for most of the year. They support
plants and animals that are specifically adapted to and reliant on the habitat,
including nationally rare birds and invertebrates. Often this habitat is associated
with other wetlands such as open water, ditches, wet grassland and wet
woodland.
2 CURRENT STATUS
Habitats included in this plan:
Swamp
Reedbeds
Tall herb fen
Associated Plans:
Wet and marshy
grassland
Springs and
flushes
2.1
Definitions
2.1.1
Swamp
Swamps tend to be relatively species-poor
wetland habitats dominated by coarse grass or sedge species. They typically
form in depressions in the ground, or as fringing vegetation alongside rivers,
ponds, reservoirs etc, though they can be more extensive as in the case of
washlands. Swamp communities in
Northamptonshire could potentially be classified as any of the following
National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities:
·
S5 Glyceria
maxima swamp (Reed Sweet-grass swamp)
·
S6 Carex
riparia swamp (Greater Pond-sedge swamp)
·
S7 Carex
acutiformis swamp (Lesser Pond-sedge swamp)
·
S10 Equisetum
fluviatile swamp (Water Horsetail swamp)
·
S12 Typha
latifolia swamp (Reedmace swamp)
·
S14 Sparganium
erectum swamp (Branched Bur-reed swamp)
·
S22 Glyceria
fluitans water margin vegetation (Floating Sweet-grass water margin
vegetation)
·
S23 Other water margin vegetation
·
S26 Phragmites
australis – Urtica dioica tall-herb fen (Common reed -nettle tall herb fen
·
S28 Phalaris
arundinacea tall-herb fen (Reed Canary-Grass tall-herb fen)
Example One: Southfield Farm Marsh SSSI. Grid Ref: SP 885759
Lying adjacent
to the River Ise, this is the largest area of long-established grass washland
in the county and includes the NVC communities S6, S7 and S23. The site has
been subject to degradation from drying out.
2.1.2
Reedbeds
Reedbeds are wetland habitats dominated by
stands of Common reed, and are classified as NVC community S4. Those areas
where the water level in the reedbed remains high (20cm above the surface) in
the summer months are referred to as reedswamp and those where the water table
is at or below the surface are referred to as reedfen. In areas that are very wet, common reed can
frequently be the only species of vegetation present. Such areas are rich in
invertebrate fauna and support nationally rare birds.
In Northamptonshire reedbeds are very
restricted in size and are mainly associated with the margins of open water
bodies, particularly flooded gravel pits.
This County
Wildlife Site, lying close to the Grand Union Canal, has 0.3ha of reedbed
alongside areas of S6, S7 and S23 NVC communities.
2.2 National Status
The national status of swamp habitats is not
known at the present time.
There are approximately 5000ha of reedbed
distributed across about 900 sites in the UK, making it one of the rarest
habitats nationally. The majority of these sites are fragmented and are less
than 20ha in area.
Reedbeds are very important habitats for birds
in the UK, supporting six nationally rare Red Data Book species and providing
roosting and feeding areas for migratory species and winter roost sites for
raptors. Four species of bird are highly dependent on this habitat; Bittern,
Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit and Reed Warbler.
Reedbeds also provide important habitat for several scarce invertebrate
species including five Red Data Book species.
Of the 700 or more species of invertebrate that are known to be
associated with reedbed, 40 are totally dependent on reed for their survival.
2.3 Local Status
Swamp habitats are rare in Northamptonshire and
are generally associated with other wetland habitats as at Southfield Farm
Marsh SSSI.
The extent of reedbeds in Northamptonshire is
limited to only a few sites. Many are associated with other wetland habitats
including gravel pits, lakes and linear watercourses, whilst others occur in
isolation, as at Great Billing sewage treatment works (SP 817617) and Storton’s
Pits (SP 734602) - the latter two were the subject of habitat creation schemes.
3
CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES
3.1
National Priority Species
Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Grasshopper warbler
(Locustella
naevia) and Water shrew (Neomys fodiens).
3.2
Local Priority Species
Bog pimpernel (Anagallis tenella), Marsh lousewort (Pedicularis palustris) and Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata).
See Appendix 1 Rivers and
Wetlands Priority Species for full lists
4
CURRENT FACTORS AFFECTING THE HABITAT
·
Small size and fragmentation.
·
Inappropriate management or neglect leading to
drying out and scrub encroachment.
·
Habitat loss and degradation due to water
abstraction and land drainage.
·
Reduction in water quality and an increase in
the incidence of pollution, both point source and diffuse.
·
The Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency
have run a joint project at Southfield Farm Marsh SSSI to monitor water levels
using piezometers and are assessing options for rehabilitation of the site.
·
English Nature is the lead organisation for
reedbeds within the UK BAP.
·
Through their statutory duties for flood
defence, water resources, water quality, and nature conservation, the Environment
Agency has responsibilities for these habitats. The Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs also has a regulatory role through its administration of
agri-environment schemes.
·
Seven sites covering these habitats currently
receive statutory protection as SSSIs in Northamptonshire. There are also 52
non-statutory County Wildlife Sites that cover these habitats.
·
The RSPB has produced a Reedbed Inventory
(1993) and a Reedbed Management Handbook (1996).
6. REEDBEDS AND SWAMP OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
|
|
OBJECTIVE
|
ACTION |
LEAD AGENCY |
PARTNERS |
TARGET |
|
6.1 |
Policy and Legislation |
||||
|
|
Objective One: Ensure that BAP species and their habitats
are given an appropriate level of protection in local plans |
Include habitat and species protection
policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance |
Local Authorities |
English Nature, Wildlife Trust, RSPB |
By 2003 |
|
|
Objective Two Promote the creation of reedbeds as a
preferred restoration option at suitable mineral extraction sites and promote
the creation of large reedbeds on other suitable land |
Agree restoration schemes prior to the
commencement of mineral extraction |
County Council |
English Nature, RSPB, Environment Agency, Wildlife
Trust, Gravel Companies |
Strategy in place 2002 |
|
|
|
Support the enlargement of existing reedbeds
and seek sites suitable for the creation of further reedbeds larger than 1ha |
County Council |
English Nature, RSPB, Anglian Water,
Environment Agency, Wildlife Trust, Gravel Companies, Landowners |
Treble the area of reedbeds over 1ha in size
by 2006 |
|
|
Objective Three: Promote the creation of swamp and tall herb
fen communities on suitable land |
Encourage swamp and tall herb fen
conservation and creation in line with agri-environment scheme guidance |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs |
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group |
Double the area by 2006 |
|
|
Objective Four: Ensure development proposals do not affect
the integrity of existing and proposed sites |
Notify Local Authorities of all relevant
sites and ensure their inclusion in local development plans |
Local Authorities |
English Nature, Wildlife Trust, RSPB |
All sites included in local plans by 2003 |
|
6.2 |
Site safeguard and management |
||||
|
|
Objective Five: Prepare a prioritised inventory of designated
sites and their management. Prepare and implement improved management regimes
where appropriate |
Review the management of all designated sites
and implement improvements where found to be necessary |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature, Nene Valley Project |
Review of management completed 2002 |
|
|
Objective Six: Ensure all sites larger than 0.5ha are
designated as County Wildlife Sites, and identified in development plans.
Ensure all sites that are worthy of SSSI status are designated |
Identify all relevant sites and notify Local
Authorities. Assess site interest against SSSI criteria |
Wildlife Trust, English Nature |
Environment Agency, Nene Valley Project |
All appropriate sites designated by 2003 |
|
|
Objective Seven: Prepare and implement Water Level Management Plans
for wetland SSSIs adjacent to and affected by main river |
Continue with, and complete the WLMP process.
Review existing plans. Implement the plans on all sites |
Environment Agency |
English Nature, Landowners |
All plans in place by 2002 |
|
6.3 |
Species management and protection |
||||
|
|
Objective Eight: Monitor and record key species for
these habitats in the County |
Identify key species and their locations.
Devise monitoring plan |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature, RSPB |
Survey and Monitoring Plan finalised 2002 |
|
|
Objective Nine: Prioritise management of key sites towards
requirements of important species |
Identify important species on each site and
write/review management plans |
Landowner |
Wildlife Trust, English Nature, RSPB |
Management plans in place 2003 |
|
6.4 |
Research and monitoring |
||||
|
|
Objective Ten: Establish appropriate survey and research
work to define priority sites and identify potential creation opportunities |
Collate and interpret current data. Identify
gaps in current knowledge and commission surveys as appropriate |
Wildlife Trust |
RSPB, English Nature, Nene Valley Project,
Environment Agency |
Survey requirements identified 2002 |
|
|
Objective Eleven: Investigate means of securing sufficient
water to enable the sustainable recreation of these habitats |
Develop Catchment Abstraction Management
Strategies to improve water availability for conservation needs |
Environment Agency |
Anglian Water, English Nature |
First stage of CAMS to be completed by 2006 |
|
6.5 |
Advisory |
||||
|
|
Objective Twelve: Ensure that management advice and information
is readily available to owners and managers of sites, to encourage optimal
management of habitats |
Produce and promote literature / information.
Apply organisation’s advisory roles |
English Nature |
Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Environment Agency,
Nene Valley Project |
Advisory strategy in place 2002 |
|
|
Objective Thirteen: Ensure that advice on habitat creation is
available and is promoted to landowners |
Produce and promote literature / information.
Apply organisation’s advisory roles |
English Nature |
Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Environment Agency,
Nene Valley Project |
Advisory strategy in place 2002 |
|
6.6 |
Communication and Publicity |
||||
|
|
Objective Fourteen: Increase public awareness of the importance
of, and threats to, these habitats |
Produce and promote literature, attend and
support local shows to encourage the conservation and sensitive management of
these habitats |
Wildlife Trust |
Nene Valley Project, English Nature, RSPB,
Environment Agency |
Collaborative strategy by 2003 |
|
|
Objective Fifteen: Publicise the progress made in delivering
this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report |
|
|
BAP Partners |
Annual |