Motney Hill Reserve - News Archive
Work Party success
With the imminent nesting season upon us volunteers have been busy completing
this years jobs for our Higher Level Stewardship program. Last Saturday
saw five keen volunteers, one of whom had travelled all the way from Bedfordshire,
tidying up previously cut scrub and erecting fences in anticipation of
the arrival of a new grazier. The final piece of this particular project
will be to install a new five bar gate and wings across one of the culverts
to contain the sheep within the desired grazing area.
To enhance our understanding of what species are now being attracted to
Motney Hill Reserve we have started a program of Bird Ringing using a
team of top level, qualified ringers from the BTO. The first session took
place this weekend and proved to be very fruitful. Further sessions will
take place throughout the year.
Whilst the breeding season gets underway, we will get on with logistical
planning of the next stage of HLS Capital works due to continue in the
autumn. This work will include further ditch regeneration and fencing
on the other side of the central scrub strip.
If you are interested in learning more about this major conservation project,
or better still would like to volunteer some of your time to help with
future work parties please contact us on info@wildspacesfund.org.uk
Stage One Completed
The first stage of our ten-year Higher Level Stewardship plan is nearing
completion. The delph ditch has been reinstated to it's former glory and
is already attracting the interest of various species. The two main culverts
linking the east and west sides of the site have been cleared giving much
improved flow of water from the natural springs found across the site.
The delph ditch is now linked to the springs by two restored ditches.
The installation of two new pipe sluices and a soil bund will allow us
to manage the water level across the reedbed. The spring fed water is
crystal clear. Fences have been erected with a view to graze the marsh
with sheep and cattle. The original plan to graze from May 2011 had to
be delayed due to logistical issues with our tenant grazier.
Ongoing work includes the clearance of invasive scrub within the reedbed
and general tidying up of the site.
We have installed a bridge over the delf ditch allowing access to the
public from the sea wall to the neighbouring land. It should be noted
that this access is a permissive path and could be closed at any time
either for maintenance or any other reason.
The next phase of capital works is due to be completed by March 2014 and
will include the restoration of the ditch alongside the road and more
fencing to enable grazing across the entire marsh.
Higher Level Stewardship begins
The much needed restoration of the reedbeds and ditches at Motney Hill
has begun under the Higher Level Stewardship scheme entered into with
Natural England.
The site has been neglected for decades, and the first stage of work involves
getting the ditch system back into working order so that water levels
can be controlled. Controlling the water levels will allow the reedbed
to remain wet in summer and winter, and will also allow the reinstatement
of the areas of wet grassland to once the return of breeding birds.
The next 3 years will see more scrub clearance, erection of gates and
fences, and the installation of bat and bird boxes. In addition to the
initial capital works we are also embarking on a 10-year management plan
to maintain grassland for certain target species, the maintenance of wet
grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl along with the restoration
and maintenance of the reedbed.
HLS News
Motney Hill Reedbed is now entered into our Higher Level Stewardship
agreement with Natural England. This is one of the most exciting projects
to be included in the agreement and will see a lot of activity over the
coming 3 years, including scrub clearance, erection of gates and fences,
installation of bat and bird boxes along with the installation of new
board sluices, soil bunds and culverts to better control water levels
and improve the wildlife habitat. In addition to these capital works we
are also embarking on a 10-year management plan to maintain grassland
for certain target species, the maintenance of wet grassland for wintering
waders and wildfowl along with the restoration and maintenance of the
reedbed.
We are already successfully monitoring the site for the presence of American
Mink.
New land purchase at Motney Hill
Another land purchase at Motney Hill takes our land-holding there to 75 acres and means that we will be in a position to further develop the conservation potential of the site.
Thistles under attack
As part of our on-going reserve management plan, Friends of the Wild Spaces Fund joined forces with Reserve Managers and Marsh Warden from the KWCA, to improve and restore the wetland habitat of this reserve.
Armed with brushing hooks, strimmers and power scythes they help to preserve the area's unique flora by cutting down thistles, ragwort and other invasive weeds, which, left to their own devices, would quickly overrun the site.
By piling up last year's dry cut reeds, our volunteers hope to create natural rafts for roosting wildfowl as water levels surge during the winter months.
Our thriving population of water voles, residing in the densely vegetated ditch banks, are also quick to investigate and take advantage of these floating platforms.
Reserve Managers and Wardens keep an ever-vigilant eye open for signs
of the American
Mink, a vicious non-native predator that could spell doom for our
precious vole colony.
Why not join the Friends of the Wild Spaces
Fund and play your part in caring for the countryside.
