Habitat Action Plans

Wetlands
	Marsh and Reedbeds
	Ponds (Standing Open Waters)
	Saltmarsh
	Streams and Ditches
	Grazing Marsh
Grassland
	Unimproved Neutral Grassland
	Improved/Semi-improved Grassland

Marsh and Reedbeds

Habitat
Marshes usually develop on a mineral soil with a water level close to the surface for most of the year, but not usually above ground level.

Reedbeds are fens or swamps, which are dominated by stands of common reed, Phragmites australis.

These wetland habitats are found across the UK. They often blend into one another and may occur in association with open water, ditches and wet grassland. This is the case with the marsh and reedbed on the Greatham Site.

These habitats are dynamic and therefore management is necessary to maintain them and associated species, and prevent succession to scrub and woodland.

Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Nests on site in reedbeds, showing the importance of this habitat in providing nesting sites for Local and UK BAP species.

Current Status
The UK holds a large proportion of the surviving fen in Europe, although fen vegetation has declined here in the last century.

In the Tees Valley, this kind of habitat occupies just 173 hectares or 0.3% of the total area. This is a small proportion of the UK total. These remnant patches are therefore important on a local scale due to their rarity. Reedbed is a very rare habitat in the Tees Valley, with small remnant stands being found mainly around the River Tees.

Marsh/Reedbed on Greatham Site
The accompanying map (PDF) shows the small stands of Reedbed Marsh on the Greatham Site. The main areas are around Pond 2 and the Scrape, and around Pond 4. An area to the north of the site has been highlighted as a possible location for the creation of a reedbed. This area is currently a pond.

Current Factors Affecting the Habitat Nationally

• Pollution from industrial sources
• Agricultural intensification leading to eutrophication
• Lack of management leading to drying and eventual succession to scrub/woodland
• Small total area of habitat, and critically small population sizes of several key species dependent on the habitat.

Key Reedbed Marsh Species on the Greatham Site

National Targets

• Identify priority fen sites in critical need of, and initiate rehabilitation by the year 2005. All rich fen and other sites with rare communities should be considered.
• Ensure appropriate water quality and water quantity for the continued existence of all SSSI/ASSI fens by 2005.

Common Toad, Bufo bufo. This Species is widespread over the Greatham Site. Ponds and reedbeds are important habitats and their management will ensure the Greatham Site has a very large population of this nationally declining species, therefore contributing to both local and national biodiversity.

Local Objectives

• Protect and enhance this habitat.
• Undertake active habitat management work to prevent succession and eventual loss of habitat.

Management Plan for Reedbeds on Greatham Site:

• Maintain the current areas of existing reedbed by active management.
• Ensure that any future developments consider the integrity or the conservation interest of reedbeds.
• Continue monitoring of population size and distribution of the key reedbed species. Individual Action plans for these key species are included in the Species Action Plans section.
• Create new areas of reedbed on the site if possible. An area has been highlighted on the accompanying map (PDF) showing a possible location for a new reedbed. Also research any other possible areas on the site for reedbed creation. The creation of new reedbed could attract species which do not currently breed on the site such as Bittern and Water Rail, UK BAP and Local BAP species respectively.
  

Action Plans for key species:
The 2 Key Species for reedbed habitat, for which Species Action Plans have been produced are:

• Reed Warbler
• Sedge Warbler

These 2 species will act as ‘indicator’ species to assess the state of the habitat and whether the above management plans are having a positive effect. If the reedbed habitats on the site are managed with the conservation of these 2 species in mind, then the rest of the key species listed for this type of habitat will also benefit.