Leighton Moss, Barrow Scout and Silverdale Moss
Leighton Moss nature reserve, on the Lancashire coast, is part of an important site of extensive reedbed, carr woodland (wet woodland made up of willow and alder), sandflats, saltmarsh, brackish lagoons, woodland, limestone grassland and limestone pavement.
The reedbed is one of the largest in the UK and is the only area in north west England with breeding bitterns.
Unfortunately, despite 30 years of careful management, the number of bitterns recorded in the reedbed is declining. Twenty years ago, there were 4-5 booming males recorded at Leighton Moss. In 2002, this figure had dropped to just 1, suggesting that there is a long-term problem with the reedbed. Several major problems have been tackled by the EU LIFE bittern project to help secure breeding bitterns in north west England, including:
- Sediment has accumulated in the reedbed, making it difficult for bitterns to find fish to eat. This sediment has been pumped out – creating five new pools within the reedbed. Around 1,700 m of new ditches are also being created, the 4,500 m of existing ditches are being re-shaped, and the reedbed lowered.
- Leighton Moss is isolated. With no other reedbeds nearby there is no suitable habitat for young bitterns to go and live in – which makes it difficult for them to survive. This should be helped by the creation of new reedbeds at Barrow Scout and Silverdale Moss and the restoration of Wigan Flashes, a site owned by Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Barrow Scout and Silverdale Moss were areas of improved, drained grassland, which had been heavily grazed. They are ideally situated for reedbed creation as Barrow Scout is less than 800m from the main nesting area at Leighton Moss and Silverdale Moss is less than 2.5km from Leighton Moss and only 750m from Haweswater National Nature Reserve, which regularly holds feeding bittern.
Reeds have been planted at Barrow Scout and the area fenced so that it can be grazed.
The excavation of the reedbed at Silverdale was carried out in 2003. There are now approximately 1.0ha of new pools and 7400m of ditches. Reed has been planted along the ditches and is also arriving naturally.
An information pack about the work at Leighton Moss is available from the visitor centre, tel: 01524 701601.
