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HELPING YOU TO HELP WILDLIFE ON YOUR FARM |
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Rush management and wet feature creation for breeding waders, Lancs |
01.11.2005 |
Author: Gavin Thomas, RSPB Bowland Wader Project officer
Farm: Chipping Moss, Leagram Estate, Lancashire |
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Aims:
The primary aim was to restore upland in-bye grassland for breeding Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe and Curlew. By managing rush cover and restoring the sites ditch network it was also hoped that the quality of pasture available to grazing livestock would also be greatly improved. |
Management:
The 44 hectares of meadows and particularly grazing pasture had been under-grazed in the past leading to dominance of soft rush across the site. A mere two pairs of Curlew and Lapwing were nesting in a small open area of the site where grazing sheep congregated.
In 2003, a programme of annual topping, weed wiping of soft rush, and aftermath cattle grazing was introduced. The tenant farmer was encouraged to increase his stocking numbers outside the bird breeding season and this included establishing a herd of hardy, native Hereford beef cattle to help control rush re-growth.
Drainage ditches on the moss were steep sided, choked with vegetation and drained much of the site. These were opened up and re-profiled to provide shallow muddy edges for wading birds to feed on. Construction of earth dams and sluices now allow high water levels to be maintained on parts of the site at certain times of the year to provide further habitat for wading birds. Of particular value are the ‘wader scrapes’ – small, shallow-edged features that gradually dry out towards the summer providing invertebrate-rich, muddy feeding areas for wading bird chicks. Chipping Moss is managed under Natural England’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Access to the moss has been improved by banking up parts of the footpath running across the site and crossing points for farm machinery and stock have been created across the ditches for the tenant farmer. All work has been undertaken by local contractors and farmers and funded by a range of local organisations as well as through the stewardship scheme.
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Achievements:
A rapid response to the habitat work has seen Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe and Curlew numbers all increase on the site. From just one pair in 2003, the Lapwing population alone has increased to at least 15 pairs in 2008. Creation of larger areas of seasonal floodwater has also increased the site’s attractiveness to winter waterfowl and passage migrants. In particular the site is now regularly used by large flocks of Curlew, with up to 350 present in March 2006, and smaller numbers of Whimbrel that pass through this part of Lancashire en route to their Icelandic breeding grounds in spring. The pasture and meadow management has also seen Skylarks return to breed on the site for the first time in many years.
Digging of ponds and scrapes and the ditch restoration work has greatly improved conditions for many species of dragonfly and damselfly and aquatic vegetation communities. This new network of wet features support a wealth of wildlife and help maintain wet grassland habitat across the moss. They also provide clean drinking water for thirsty livestock in summer!
The farmer is also benefitting from the improved grazing quality of the site and has also generated an extra source of income from his Hereford beef cows. In short, Chipping Moss is now a fine example of nature conservation and sustainable farming working together.
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©2010 Farm Wildlife |
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| Images ©RSPB, except Greater Horseshoe Bat ©Bat Conservation Trust |
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