Creation of the warbler Wood
The plan to originally cut down the poplar plantation down in segments over time was taken out of our hands by mother nature when storm Doris arrived on the 23rd of February 2017. Many poplar had their roots ripped out and fell over onto the fence line, which had only recently been replaced. It was then decided to be completely removed with heavy equipment.
Then in the autumn of 2017 earth works started to reshape the former plantation into new area for warblers. This started with the shaping of new water ways to which we plan to plant with willows along side. These water ways staying with the 4 culverted sections, the first two southern sections have had their waterways dug out and willows planted in 2017 and we hope to complete the last two sections in the autumn of 2018.
Then in the autumn of 2017 earth works started to reshape the former plantation into new area for warblers. This started with the shaping of new water ways to which we plan to plant with willows along side. These water ways staying with the 4 culverted sections, the first two southern sections have had their waterways dug out and willows planted in 2017 and we hope to complete the last two sections in the autumn of 2018.
Double-Ditch Systems
Following the success of the double ditch edge at other wetland sites we are keen to include this arrangement on a range of water bodies at Kingfishers Bridge including the wider ‘Rills’ on the Cam Wash SSSI, the pool in ‘The Rough’ and the Great Ditch. Work should start late summer 2016. The modified edge includes a raised bank running parallel to the shore of a ditch or other water body allowing the growth of reed. The water between the shore and this bank provides the same high quality feeding on the shallow sloping mud edge but is sheltered by the reed growth creating perfect conditions for young wader chicks which can escape into the reed quickly should they need to.
Island Reprofiling
Over time the lake islands have been eroded by wave action on the lake resulting in a 30-40cm cliff around the shore. Whilst not an issue for the adult birds the vertical face is too steep for young chicks to scale leaving them vulnerable to predation. The eroded material has built up in the deeper channels between the islands limiting the availability of deeper water areas to shelter fish during freezing conditions and hampering our access to the islands by boat. Because the eroded material is underwater, when it is recovered it is too unstable to rebuild the shore without running back into the deeper areas of the lake. To combat this we have come up with a plan to remove Stable, dry soil from the centre of the islands to rebuild the shore, leaving a hole in the middle of the island which can then be filled with slubb from the lake and left to settle and stabilise.
