Saltmarsh conservation project at Widnes Warth.

 

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The project is to introduce a 3 year cattle grazing project on saltmarsh, a Halton BAP habitat.  The objective is to increase the number of estuarine bird species, both breeding and wintering, of the saltmarsh through the introduction of appropriate grazing.  This change in management is expected to result in an increase in key BAP species such as breeding redshank.  In its current ungrazed condition, the saltmarsh is unable to sustain a regular breeding population of Redshank as the grass sward is too high during the breeding season.  Other BAP species that are expected to benefit from the grazing are skylark and reed bunting, along with an increase in wintering BAP species such as teal, dunlin and other wading birds.

 

Photo 2 : Redshank

 

 

The grazing will be carried out with conservation breeds of cattle from Cheshire Wildlife Trust.  It is essential that the correct levels of grazing are carried out: the changes in management will be monitored through the research partnership.

 

The grazing will commence during Spring 2011.  Before this, during 2010, a survey of existing floral diversity and ground sampling will be conducted to determine baseline conditions.  This will be carried out by the research student and will allow us to monitor the changes, which will eventually form the basis of a PhD dissertation.

 

The results, if successful, will be applied on a permanent basis and on a larger scale in conjunction with future Upper Mersey Estuary projects in both Halton and Warrington, including the Mersey Gateway, the Mersey and Gowy Washlands Living Landscapes.

 

 

For further information on the project, please contact Paul Oldfield at paul.oldfield@halton.gov.uk

 

 

February 16^th 2010.