Great news for Somerset flood plains

Meadows are now alive with birdlife

January 2011: The RSPB has welcomed the restoration of Southlake Moor to the north of Burrowbridge in Somerset as a major step forward in the improvement of the Levels and Moors for wildlife, farming and flood storage.

ATTRACTING BIRDS: The flooded meadows next to Burrow Mump in

The restoration has involved considerable engineering work to allow safe control of flood waters in winter. This has been carried out by the Parrett Internal Drainage Board (IDB), as part of a multi-agency project.

Richard Archer, RSPB Somerset & Severn Estuary Conservation Officer, said: ‘Standing on Burrow Mump it's fantastic to once again see these meadows flooded and alive with thousands of waterbirds. We know from our work on the other side of the River Parrett at West Sedgemoor that if you manage the water levels properly you will see birds return in huge numbers. Hats off to the Parrett IDB for making this happen on Southlake.'

Work will target ten more sites
The Southlake Project is the first wetland restoration scheme to be completed by the Parrett IDB and marks a significant change in the board's activities towards more multi-functional and sustainable management of floodplain wetland systems.

The chief executive of the Somerset Drainage Boards Consortium, Nick Stevens, said: ‘The boards in Somerset are delivering a multi-million-pound programme of works to upgrade sluices, culverts and watercourses. This enables us to manage water levels more effectively and provide suitable conditions for wildlife and high standards of water level management and flood protection.

‘Southlake is the first of these projects to be completed and has delivered impressive results. The programme of work is set to run for a further five years and will include ten more sites. It is vitally important that we work with our colleagues in Natural England and the Environment Agency who have collaborated in close partnership with us to achieve these goals.'

Southlake is one of a number of sites on the Somerset Levels and Moors where a wide range of partners are working together to return the wetlands to favourable condition.

Mr Archer said: ‘The Somerset levels and Moors is of international importance for a wide range of birds. In winter it is home to thousands of migrant waterbirds such as wigeon and teal, however, their distribution is patchy, and the area could perform a lot better. The new roost site on Southlake is hopefully one of a new generation of safe roosting and feeding sites. Not only this, but returning the land to favourable condition also has benefits for those that farm the area, as well as local communities who can now enjoy an amazing new wildlife spectacle.'