REEDBEDS LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005

Kutsford Moor and Marbury reedbed were both cut in the autumn using the new technique of ride cutting as suggested by RSPB.

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed!

OBJECTIVES

To map, survey and extend this habitat.

NATIONAL TARGETS

1. Identify and rehabilitate by the year 2000 the priority areas of existing reedbed (targeting those of 2ha or more) and maintain this thereafter by active management·
2. Create 1,200ha of new reedbed on land of low nature conservation interest by 2010.

LOCAL TARGETS

Targets awaited

CURRENT STATUS

Reedbeds are defined by Wheeler (1992) as consisting of greater than 75% of common reed (Phragmites australis). They may be brackish and tidal, but the majority are freshwater and either riverine or in waterlogged depressions.

The area in the UK covered by this habitat in the past is uncertain. The most extensive reedbeds are found in floodplains and coastal plains. As large areas of these habitats have been reclaimed (dating back to the first drainage schemes introduced in the 17th century) reedbeds were likely to be a more frequent habitat than at present.

The largest area of reedbed in the UK is the tidal Tay Estuary, Scotland (410ha) while the largest inland reedbed is Walberswick NNR (300ha). A 1979 RSPB survey (Everret, 1989) showed that the most extensive reedbeds were in East Anglia with other important sites being on Anglesey and on the English south coast. However, most sites were fragmented. An updated survey carried out by RSPB in 1993 showed that of 926 sites in the UK most were fragmented into areas of less than 1ha (Hawke, 1996). In the 1996 survey Cheshire is recorded as having only 3 reedbeds greater than 10ha. The largest inland site is that of Woolston Eyes (12.6ha). In total only 18 of the sites the RSPB surveyed have an area greater than 1ha. While Cheshire has never been noted for extensive reedbeds due to its topography, the total area covered by this habitat appears to be much lower than the region could potentially hold.

Of these 18 sites with an area greater than 1ha, 15 have SSSI status and so are managed by an association between individual landowners and English Nature. In addition, the Dee Estuary and a smaller area of reedbed (Frodsham Marsh) have held international and European status, being designated as RAMSAR sites since December 1995, and Special Protection Areas under the 1979 EC Habitats Directive, respectively. Bound by the EC Directive the government is required to take special measures to conserve the habitat of rare, vulnerable and/or regularly migrating species.

THREATS

Loss of area by excessive water extraction and, in the past, land drainage and conversion to intensive agriculture.
Lack of or inappropriate management of existing reedbeds leading to drying, scrub encroachment and succession to woodland.
Pollution of freshwater supplies to the reedbed: siltation may lead to drying; toxic chemicals may lead to loss of fish and amphibian prey for key species; accumulation of poisons in the food chain and eutrophication may cause reed death.
Inappropriate management.

CURRENT ACTION

EN Notification of sites as SSSIs with established management agreements with landowners.
EN provides advice to landowners on appropriate management, rehabilitation, extension and creation.
EN/EA-led Heritage Lottery Fund bid for wetlands (including fens, reedbeds and grazing marsh) to assist in purchase, management and creation projects throughout the country.
RSPB have applied for EU Life funding for reedbeds/bitterns which includes reedbed creation opportunities in the Mersey Valley and Cheshire meres.

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+

Finalise the production of the reedbed database and produce a register.
Assess current management and implement new management for these areas with the aim of increasing the quality of the stands and increasing the area of existing stands.
Raise the awareness and importance of reedbed habitat to landowners and the general public.
Prioritise existing sites which require management.
Actively involve landowners and the general public in recreation and maintenance of reedbeds.
Feed local information into the National BAP Group.
Identify areas and landowners of potential creation sites.
Continue surveying the habitat.
Form links with other relevant BAPs, e.g. Fens, Meres.
Rotational cuts of all CWT reedbeds expected.
Change the time and manner in which reedbeds are cut.
To continue cutting the reedbeds at Marbury and Knutsford in the same manner as in 2005.

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

Local BAP Action Group formed.
EN launched the Meres and Mosses Strategy in 1998 which included reedbeds.
Meres and Mosses RAMSAR site includes extensive areas of fringing reed.
EN Natural Area Profiles include reedbeds as key habitats and identify issues relating to this habitat.
EN produced a leaflet entitled "Meres and Mosses of Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire" in 1998 which includes reedbeds.
In 1997 National Grid with Cheshire Wildlife Trust increased the area of reed at Frodsham Field Studies Centre on the banks of the Weaver.
Archaeological survey of Whitley Reed completed with regards to potential reed bed restoration project.
EA/EN/RSPB "Lowland Wetland Project" completed
Database of existing sites has been compiled
EN/EA funded ECUS reports for all SSSI Meres and Mosses completed, includes areas of reedbeds.
Pool fringing reed improvement scheme at Moore Nature Reserve, Warrington.
EN Pilot Project "England Inventory for the Wetland Habitat Action Plan" has been completed which included Cheshire. The project produced a geospatial database on CD, which includes metadata on the occurrence of fens, reedbeds and lowland raised bog in the pilot area, a GIS database of habitat maps, and links to existing (mainly non-spatial) databases. 147 Cheshire sites included.
Proportions of Reedbeds at Marbury and Knutsford Moor cut as per their respective rotational plans in 2003.
Bitterns prevented the cutting of any of CWT held beds in 2004.
A reedbed management course was attended in 2004 by two CWT officers who will be implementing the management suggestions.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

Cheshire Wildlife Trust	Environment Agency	rECOrd
English Nature	Meres and Mosses Project	RSPB

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

Cheshire County Council

Land owners and managers

CONTACT

Jacki Hulse, Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Phone: 01270 610180
Fax: 01270 610430

REFERENCES

Everrett, M. J. (1989): Reedbeds: A Scarce Habitat. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Conservation Review 3.
Grice, P. and Brown, A.F. (1994): Action for Reedbed Birds in England. English Nature.
Hawke, C.J. and Jose, P.V. (1996): Reedbed Use for Commercial and Wildlife Interests. RSPB.
Kirby, P. (1992): Habitat Management for Invertebrates: A Practical Handbook. RSPB.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2:Action Plans, London.
Painter, M., Smith, K. and Gilbert, G (1995): An Inventory of British Reedbeds 1993. RSPB.
Wheeler, B.D. (1992): Integrating Wildlife with Commercial Uses, Ward, D. (Ed.): Reedbeds for Wildlife, University of Bristol/RSPB, Sandy.

Date compiled - 1997
Date reviewed - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005