Ready to Reed Revival

That’s right, we have ANOTHER reed project getting underway.

For those not familiar with reeds and what SCRT do, here is a very brief history…

Background

Here at South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT for short), we have been restoring reedbeds since 2013! More specifically around Windermere, but we have done some work around Coniston too. As part of the Windermere Restore the Shore project, with the Environment Agency and other partners, SCRT commissioned the Freshwater Biological Association to carry out a study of reedbed loss around Windermere. This included the public sharing pictures and locations of once plush reedbeds around Windermere. What they found was shocking! Since 1870, reedbeds around Windermere had declined by up to 90%.

Now maybe your thinking, why does it matter? Why are reedbeds even important? Well, not only do they act as nutrient filters, they are a fantastic habitat for a range of different species. These special transitional habitats, such called because they are the transition between aquatic and terrestrial habitat, support birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals and more.

So why did they decline in the first place? This is a complex mish mash of reasons, including; development around the lake shore, tree encroachment, increase in wildfowl numbers (including Canadian Geese), impacts of boating as well as changes in lake levels.

What we do

It’s simple really, we restore them. Of course, it isn’t that simple but it is important. Not only for species and biodiversity but because it is important to our local environmental heritage too.

Since 2013, SCRT have restored several hectares of reedbed around lake Windermere. But, we’re not stopping there. Welcome to the Reed Revival project! This project is in partnership with Lake District Foundation and will see another 4 sites restored around lake Windemere, equalling a 1400 square metres of reedbed restoration.

We are in the process of creating a activity timeline and we will be inviting volunteers to come plant reedbeds with us, as well as seed gathering, maintenance, coppicing and more. Keep an eye out on our events pages as well as our social media pages too. Come help restore this fantastic lake with us!

I’ll be heading up the project with help from our very own community engagement officer Kath.

By Rachael Halhead, Project Support Officer