CROMWELL BOTTOM LOCAL
NATURE RESERVE:
LAGOON
AND REEDBED CONSERVATION
PROJECT
Introduction
Cromwell
Bottom Wildlife Group and Calderdale Council are working in collaboration to
facilitate the conservation and enhancement of the lagoon and associated reedbed.
Members of this partnership are very mindful of the ecological importance and
the aesthetic value of the site. (For example, this is the only large reedbed
located within Calderdale.)
Why conservation work is needed
· Reed beds, if left
undisturbed, are impermanent, and undergo a natural succession from open water,
through progressively drier reed bed, to scrub.
· Ultimately, they
dry out completely and become broadleaved woodland.
· At Cromwell
Bottom it is evident that the area of open water is decreasing, that the
reed bed is drying out, and that the area of scrub is increasing.
How the conservation work is undertaken
· The methods
traditionally used to rehabilitate reed beds are to grub out some or all of the
scrub and to lower the reed bed, and/or to raise the water level.
· The proposal for
Cromwell Bottom is to use a combination of these methods; the works to be
carried out in phases as funding becomes available.
· New and improved
viewing areas will also be developed.
How the work has been planned
· Members of the
partnership have liaised extensively with individuals and organisations that
possess appropriate expertise. For example, in 2017 the Council commissioned an
invertebrate survey of the lagoon basin and the wet woodland lying immediately
west of the basin.
The proposed first phase of the work
· It is proposed
that Phase 1 of the work should be to grub out most, or possibly all of the
scrub located at the northern end of the lagoon basin, and to create open water
with islands at this location.
· The work,
involving the use of an excavator, would be carried out by professionals who
have expertise in working on nature reserves.
· Help by
volunteers, particularly with the creation of the final structure of the
islands, would also be very welcome.
· It is proposed
that this phase would be carried out in late September or October 2018.
What to do if you would like further
information, want to ask specific questions, or wish to comment on the proposal
Please
contact members of the partnership before 04/09/2018 using one of the following
e-mail addresses:
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