Reedbeds in the UK – Scarce and endangered

28/11/2009 20:49:03 Saving our endangered reedbeds
November 2009. Scientists are gathering for a once-in-a-decade summit on how to protect Britain's most threatened wildlife habitat.

In centuries gone by reedbeds were common throughout the UK but now they are mostly confined to isolated coastal areas of East Anglia. A report published last year stated that out of 20 key sites, 12 were under imminent threat due to sea level rise caused by climate change.

Reedbed conservation experts
The largest gathering of reedbed conservation experts for ten years took place at Leicester University to discuss how to protect the habitat which is home to birds like bitterns and marsh harriers as well as rare wainscot moths, swallowtail butterflies, eels and water voles.

12% UK reedbeds owned by RSPB
The RSPB owns 12 per cent of the UK's total reedbeds and has set itself the target of doubling the area of reedbeds it manages by 2030. The RSPB is currently in the middle of a two year project called Bringing Reedbeds to Life during which conservationists have been surveying insects, fish and other wildlife in reedbeds to try and work out how they can be better protected.

RSPB Leighton Moss reedbeds. Credit Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)

Nick Droy, who is heading the project, said: "Reedbeds are very important for all kinds of wildlife, but they are also in great danger. This event will be bringing together experts in reedbed ecology from different organisations so we can all work to preserve this amazing habitat.

"There is such a small area of reedbed left in the UK and if we lose that then many of the species it supports would become extinct in this country. This would be a tragedy, and we must do all we can now to make sure it never happens."

Management required
Reedbed is unlike any other kind of habitat because it is transient. In prehistoric times it was created and destroyed by natural events like floods, but in today's heavily managed landscape it cannot exist without constant management.

Very specialised habitat
RSPB ecologist Dr Jane Sears said: "Reedbeds are home to some very specialised invertebrates including a group of moths that bore into the hollow reed stems and raise their caterpillars inside the reed.

"Some of these, such as Fenn's wainscot moth and the reed leopard moth, are very threatened as they only occur in East Anglia and are in danger of losing their habitat as the sea level rises. Knowing what they require and how to manage newly created reedbeds at inland sites for them will be very important if they are to survive."

RSPB reedbeds
The RSPB's key reedbed sites include Minsmere in Suffolk and Ham Wall in Somerset, Leighton Moss in Lancashire, Lakenheath  in Suffolk and Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk.

The event was being hosted by the RSPB and is supported by Natural England. The day will feature presentations and workshops led by experts from Buglife, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.