| |
Holkham coastal grazing marsh restoration
 Coastal
grazing marsh at Holkham NNR (see picture opposite) has been successfully restored
to hold significant populations of breeding and wintering birds. The 400 ha
of grazing marsh supported flora and fauna which was mainly confined to the
dykes. The surrounding pasture was kept dry for the purposes of providing maximum
fodder for grazing stock and had low bird numbers. From 1996, raised water levels
and enhanced management has succeeded in creating conditions which allow grazing
to continue, albeit at a lower stocking rate, whilst allowing the site to develop
international importance for wintering wildfowl and national significance for
breeding birds.
Caption:
Lowlying coastal grazing marsh in winter, there are pools of standing water
in the middle distance.
|
Guidance: This restoration has been attained in full cooperation
with the landowner through:
- Adequate control of water levels. Mainly involving the maintenance
of stable levels at or within 10 cm of the surface year round;
- Dyke management on a seven year rotation, again to give some stability
to the flora and fauna;
- Appropriate grazing by cattle (Harold
1995).
This site shows how successful restoration can be achieved, when more
traditional
forms of management are developed. A web site @ http://holkham.co.uk/naturereserve/
provides information about the reserve.
|
References
Harold, R.
1995.
Creating wetlands at Holkham.
Enact: Management for Wildlife, 3/1., 12-15.
|
|
