With the help of volunteers, SCRT has carried out a series of coppicing events to increase light to reedbeds around Windermere. The CaST project is focused on restoring and maintaining reedbeds around Windermere. Reedbeds have declined 90% despite being important, not only for providing valuable habitat for birds, mammals, invertebrates and more but they also act as natural filters, removing nutrients and re-oxygenating water.

A photograph of the area opened up after SCRT staff and volunteers, with the YMCA coppiced back several large willows to allow for the expansion of the existing reedbed.

Volunteers working hard at the YMCA to remove coppiced material.

Succession on the inland edge of existing reedbeds can lead to high tree cover and over shading. As a result, the reedbed degrades. To preserve and allow for the natural expansion of reedbeds, SCRT and YMCA staff, with the help of volunteers, coppiced a large section of willow from the southern end of Windermere.

Material from the trees were then used by YMCA staff to create a dead hedge close to the site. Using the coppiced trees in this way prevented excessive waste whilst creating shelter and habitat from bird species that may have used the coppiced trees.

We have also used coppiced material in this way as part of a reedbed creation project on a National Trust site around Windermere. When a new reedbed is created a fence is usually constructed around the site to mitigate against grazing or disturbance of planted reeds. Coppicing within and around the area is also carried out to allow light to reach the plug plants. To make use of the material removed, a small section of the fencing has been constructed as a dead hedge. This creates a new secondary habitat whilst also protecting the new reedbed.

This is just one technique we can be used to ensure the restoration of reedbeds. We have more volunteer days coming up in March, including constructing small cages around reeds in order to provide them with protection from grazing. Fancy joining us? Please see our events page for more information.

Dead hedges (left- YMCA), (Right – National Trust), built from coppiced material, creating shelter for birds mammals and invertebrates.