2nd February 2010

Reed Bed Rejuvenation

Tuesday 2nd February was World Wetland Day and a group of volunteers from the Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership took part in this world wide event by clearing encroaching scrub from
part of the reed bed at Lakeside Nature Reserve in Ash. 

“It’s nice to know that we are doing something as part of a world wide initiative,” said volunteer Andrew Pope, “but it’s very satisfying to know that the work we are doing, removing these trees and bushes, will improve the local habitat for wildlife such as Reed Bunting and Sedge Warblers.”

Created as a result of gravel extraction in the 1950s, Lakeside is
a Local Nature Reserve owned by Guildford Borough Council. It
contains a mosaic of wildlife habitats including open lakes with reed beds, and is one of the richest ecological sites to be found in the Blackwater Valley. One of the ongoing problems is keeping the reed beds clear of scrub and saplings, which left to their own devices will grow, gradually drying out the wet soil and eventually changing the habitat from reed beds to woodland. To prevent this happening areas of unwanted trees and scrub have to be regularly cut back and removed.

The Blackwater Valley Conservation Volunteers go out every Tuesday to work on sites throughout the Valley area. If you would like to find out more about the work they do please ring Stuart at Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership on 01252 331353.
                                                                               More on volunteering >>>

Looking after wetlands and keeping them healthy is essential for our survival, we cannot live without them, yet evidence suggests that globally we have probably already lost 50% and are still losing more. Wetlands are under threat from numerous sources, including lack of management, agriculture and urban and industrial development; excessive fresh water withdrawals; siltation; pollution; over exploitation; nutrient loading; invasive species and climate change. As a result wetland ecosystems across the world are at risk and that includes those in the Blackwater Valley area.

END

For further information contact:
Christine Reeves, Visitor Promotions Officer on 01252 331353.
Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership,
Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 2PS.

EDITOR NOTES

• 2nd February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2nd February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular. More details can be found at the Ramsar website www.ramsar.org