RSPB - Guide to the management of wet grassland sites for breeding waders

Wet grassland is important breeding habitat for a number of important wader species. The guide available in pdf format @ (http://213.219.31.195/Images/5_31297.pdf) gives information on management in relation to:

• Water table depth and soil type;
• Amount of flooding/surface water in early spring;
• Food availability;
• Vegetation structure and composition;
• Predation;
• Nest trampling by livestock and destruction by agricultural operations.

It provides more detailed information on the micro-habitat requirements of a selection of breeding waders.

Comment: If the above web site address deos not work the guide is available via the main RSPB web site http://www.rspb.co.uk/wildlife/default.asp click on nature reserves; reserves management; habitats. A more detailed guide to wet grassland management is available from the RSPB (Benstead et al. 1997).

References

Benstead, P., Drake, M., Jose, P.V., Mountford, O., Newbold, C. & Treweek, J. 1997. The Wet Grassland Guide: Managing floodplain and Coastal Wet Grasslands for Wildlife. RSPB, Sandy.