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Our work here
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Blacktoft Sands protects several important habitats within the Humber Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The RSPB is managing these habitats for the benefit of their wildlife and to help people get the most out of the reserve. We work closely with Associated British Ports who own the reserve and support our work.
Righting the reedbeds
Our reedbed, at 122 hectares, is the second largest tidal reedbed in the UK. It is home to breeding birds such as marsh harriers, bearded tits and bitterns. Other important wildlife includes water voles and the rare brown-veined wainscot moth.
We are looking after this habitat by cutting reed on rotation, creating new ditches and pools, and keeping scrub in check.
Level best
The brackish lagoons inside the reedbed are used by breeding waders, including up to 40 pairs of avocets, as well as waders and wildfowl on passage. We maintain good conditions for these birds by controlling the water and salinity levels.
We also keep the lagoons clear by cutting back invasive plants and excavating any silt that builds up.
Great grazing
The reserve's 32 hectares of grazing marsh are good habitat for waterfowl and waders, including large numbers of wintering lapwings and golden plovers.
We keep the marsh in good condition by grazing it with cattle, cropping it for hay, cutting back thistles and harrowing bare ground to encourage weeds.
Scrubbing up
We have planted willow scrub on the reserve to provide habitat for declining countryside birds, including song thrushes, turtle doves and tree sparrows. We keep it in good condition by cutting on rotation.
We have also provided nest boxes and feeding stations for tree sparrows, which has helped them increase to 28 breeding pairs by 2004.
Reaching out
The reserve currently receives around 20,000 visitors a year. We aim to increase this by maintaining our existing facilities and offering new ones - including a family-friendly hide and a reedbed trail. We also reach out to the community through a popular events programme and environmental education programmes for ten local schools.
The reserve provides a good example to landowners of how to create and manage reedbeds, brackish lagoons and grazing marsh. We aim to use this in promoting other similar local conservation projects.
How you can help
Join the RSPB and support our work.
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