Reedbeds
REEDBEDS FOR BITTERNS AND THE REST
Recent research shows that bitterns need a varied reedbed habitat with plenty of variation in depths and edge in order to thrive. They mainly feed in the 30m of reed from the edge of open water and reed fringed ditches, because that is where the fish are. The work that is being done as part of the EU LIFE project, aims to provide this variation and thereby a rich habitat for many other creatures.
What is a reedbed?
Reedbeds are basically ítemporaryí habitats. Under normal circumstances, an unmanaged reedbed shows a succession from young reed colonising open water or wet ground through a gradation of increasingly dry ground. As reedbeds age, they build up a considerable litter layer which eventually rises above ground or water level, and ultimately provides opportunities for scrub or woodland invasion (Kirby, 1992).
Where are they found?
Naturally developing reedbeds are found in floodplains, waterlogged depressions and estuaries. Reedbeds in Britain are found on the eastern side of England between Dorset and the Humber with the greatest concentration in East Anglia, but they can also be found in Lancashire, Wales (mainly Anglesey) and the Inner Tay estuary in Scotland, which contains the largest continuous stand of reed in the country.
Although reedbeds are widely distributed, they are by no means common. A programme of intensive drainage and the decline of traditional management, caused by the failing market for thatching products and marsh hay, led to an estimated loss of 10-40pc of the UKís reedbeds between 1945 and 1990 (Bibby et al 1989). A 1994 survey by the RSPB revealed that there are 926 reedbeds in the UK totalling 6,530ha but that they are mostly fragmented into small blocks of less than one hectare (Painter 1994).
Owing to pressures on land use, there are very few places where reedbeds can develop naturally so conservation organisations are now making a concerted effort to create new reedbeds to replace those that have been lost. In twenty years time the best place to see a reedbed will be on the site of a restored coalmine or quarry.
Why are they important?
Reedbeds are important for a variety of reasons.
- They support a wide range of plants, animals and invertebrates including 6 nationally rare species of breeding birds and 5 nationally rare species of invertebrate.
- They can help prevent erosion on the edges of lakes and lagoons because their roots bind sediment
- They help prevent flooding because they can hold large amounts of water
- They are excellent filters, removing pollutants from water as it passes through.
- They provide thatching materials
- They provide fuel for biomass power stations
- They are aesthetically pleasing
References
Kirby, P (1992) Habitat Management for Invertebrates: A Practical Handbook< /i>. RSPB
Bibby, C., Housden, S., Porter, R. & Thomas, G. (1989) A Conservation Strategy for Birds. RSPB unpublished report.
Painter, M (1994) The UK Reedbed Inventory Report.RSPB
