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INTRODUCTION TO REEDBED
Origins and definitions
Reedbeds
in the UK and most of Europe are dominated by Phragmites
australis. They occur at the margins of tidal land where brackish to
freshwater transitions occur, and in freshwater pools. It is a vigorous species
which can quickly invade shallow open water and may develop through succession
into damp scrub and woodland. The species is essentially a primary coloniser
which under natural conditions either invades new areas (on large sites) or
reinvades areas where changes in water levels cause degeneration in older stands.
Reedbeds can be extensive monocultures in areas flooded year round (reed swamp).
Where periodic flooding occurs or where drainage water runs through the site
reed fen develops which tends to have a more diverse vegetation.
Traditional management
Because of their natural tendency towards scrub and woodland development, in
areas where opportunities for new reedbed are restricted their survival and
that of their associated plant and communities is almost entirely defendant
on management.
In the past cutting reed for thatch would have been a major use and is still
practiced at a few sites; the largest probably being the reedbeds of the Tay
Estuary, Scotland. Manipulation of water
levels and other management activities have become important for
nature conservation. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has a number
of important coastal reserves where intensive management is practiced (see for
example, Minsmere).
Reasons to restore
Reedbeds (and the species which rely upon them) are a rare
habitat. Drainage (and enclosure of estuarine reedbeds) has reduced
their area considerably. No estimates of the losses have been made, but it is
considered that the national (UK) resource of reedbeds has declined
markedly in extent and quality and with it the rare plants and animals which
depend upon it. Whilst colonisation is essential for the development of mature
reedbeds, succession to scrub and woodland is often seen as retrogressive.
States and values
The nature of the reedbed and its importance for wildlife depends to a large
extent on the stage in succession
it has reached. Large areas of reedbed with areas of open water, including ditches
(State
2) are most important for nature conservation reasons. Under normal
conditions the natural succession is from newly colonising plants (State
1) to the development of scrub and woodland (State
3). Large areas of reed swamp can have an economic value for reed
thatch and are increasingly used as a means of treating effluent (see LIFE
Reedbed Project).
Guidance (routes to restoration)
Two approaches to reedbed
restoration are considered within the Guide (Creation
and control):
- Creation
of new reedbeds (e.g. by reprofiling land levels);
- Control
of vegetation (e.g. by reversing succession and manipulation of water levels).
Much of the information on restoration methods is derived from work which aims
to secure habitat for the bittern
and other rare breeding birds. The RSPB has played a major part in this work
and has produced a number of key publications (see below). There are also two
LIFE projects concerned with reedbed creation, the first is concerned with reestablishing
the bittern in the UK the second provides for the establishment of a series
of
Key Publications
Key References
Niedowski, N.L.
2000.
New York State Salt Marsh Restoration and Monitoring Guidelines.
New York State, Division of Coastal Resources & Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.
RSPB 4
Establishing and Managing Reedbeds.
Reserve Management Information sheets
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
References
Hawke, C.J. & José, P.V.
1996.
Reedbed Management for Commercial and Wildlife Interests.
RSPB, Sandy.
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