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State 2 'Improved' to State 1 Traditional - restoring coastal
grazing marsh for birds
Restoring grazing marsh which has been subject to agricultural improvement
(but has not been converted to arable - State
3) for bird populations is an important aim of many restoration projects
associated with coastal wet grassland and grazing marsh. Creating or restoring
appropriate water
management and grazing regimes can result in conditions suitable
for breeding waders and wintering waterfowl in a relatively short space of time.
The correct vegetation structure is less important but requires communities
that are tolerant of inundation (e.g. MG11 and MG13 National Vegetation Communities).
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Increasing water levels to those which existed prior to agricultural
intensification is the first requirement. This often requires establishing
levels higher than those created and maintained under more intensive agricultural
use. A variety of methods
can be used. The overall aim is to create conditions where winter flooding
takes place (providing habitat for wintering waterfowl) and in summer
pools occur adjacent to breeding sites for ground-nesting birds.
- Restoring grazing regimes
The second key element in restoring grazing marsh lies in the establishment
of grazing
regimes at relatively low levels and for limited periods. Thus
there will almost always need to be a decrease in the number of animals,
possibly accompanied by a reduced input of fertiliser (no longer required
with lower stock levels) and a change in the grazing period. The aim here
is to create a range of grassland structures form more open swards to
tussocky grassland which provides nesting sites for a variety of breeding
birds.
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Comment: Subsequent use will also need to be in line with traditional
management sites, in relation to both hydrological and grazing regimes.
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