Bringing reedbeds to life

• Project objectives
• Key dates so far
• Work planned or underway
• Results
• Species affected (not UK birds)
• Downloads
• Who to contact
• Partners
• Funding

Bringing reedbeds to life: Water soldier in ditch at Strumpshaw Fen

The RSPB is bringing reedbeds to life across the UK - every buzzing, crawling, slithering, fluttering part of them.

Bringing reedbeds to life is a new initiative, taking a more rounded view of reedbed wetlands. We are trying to discover more about what makes them tick for the wildlife that lives within them, and sharing practical knowledge and best practice with reedbed owners and managers from across the country.

Working with partner organisations, we will be carrying out wildlife surveys and research across the country, trying to discover more about what makes them tick for the variety of wildlife that lives in them. We will attempt to relate what we find to the management and habitat functions of each site, so that we can get a better understanding of the best ways to manage reedbeds for wildlife, every buzzing, crawling, slithering, fluttering part of them.

We will be sharing this knowledge with our partners through training courses, technical workshops and publications, and coming up with new ideas on the best ways to manage reedbeds for wildlife.

We hope there will be an opportunity for all those interested in reedbed conservation to get involved, bringing reedbeds to life across the country - every buzzing, crawling, slithering, fluttering part of them!

Project objectives

• Increase our understanding of the habitat and management requirements of a range of reedbed wildlife, via a programme of wildlife research and survey work on the 5 key project reedbed sites.
• Increase our understanding of the factors influencing bittern nesting events at 5 key reedbed sites, via a programme of research and survey work on the 5 key project reedbed sites.
• Provide site specific, habitat management advice to reedbed managers via a programme of practical reedbed habitat audit site visits across an additional 20 reedbed sites
• Develop new and updated habitat management advice and technical guidance to reedbed managers based upon project results.
• Bring together reedbed managers and others to share best practice and explore new techniques for reedbed management, via technical workshops, training courses and conferences.

Key dates so far

• March 17 2009: Fish ecology and management for wetland nature reserves - Technical workshop. Ouse Fen, Cambs.
• June 25 2009: Reedbed design and creation - Training course. Potteric Carr, Doncaster.
• September 8 2009: reedbed management and restoration - Training course. Leighton Moss, Lancs.
• October 6 2009: Practical reedbed auditing for bitterns - Training course. Lakenheath, Suffolk.
• December 1 2009: Managing reedbeds for wildlife - Technical workshop, Leicester University.
• July 27 2010: Fen and reed management for wildlife - Training course. Sutton Fen, Norfolk.
• August 10 2010: Reedbed auditing for bitterns - Training course. Otmoor, Oxfordshire.
• 19 October 2010: Sustainable reedbed management - Training course. Ham Wall, Somerset.

Work planned or underway

• Wildlife surveys and research on 5 key reedbed sites to identify habitat and management preferences of a range of taxa. 2009-2010
• Reedbed audits on a further 20 reedbed sites to 'fine tune' habitat management and provide practical advice. 2009-2010
• Technical workshops and training courses. 2009-2010
• Development of new and updated habitat management advice and technical guidance. 2009-2010

Results

1) Conference proceedings - Managing reedbeds for wildlife, December 2009 - now available to download.

2) Managing reedbeds for wildlife advisory poster now available - Contact nick.droy@rspb.org.uk to order your FREE copy! (Low res version available to view in downloads section of this page.) October 2009.

3) Bringing reedbeds to life annual summary2009 now available to download. October 2009.

Species affected (not UK birds)

Bringing reedbeds to life will benefit a range of non avian BAP species;From mammals to invertebrates, amphibians to fish.

Downloads

Who to contact

Nick Droy
Wetlands Adviser
E-mail: nick.droy@rspb.org.uk

Partners

Funding