On the reserve the month has been dominated by moving animals to attain the correct level of grazing, followed by weed-wiping with low ground pressure machinery, hopefully to be concluded with cutting and removal – conditions permitting. The amount of rush in the fields is now getting to the 10% that is preferred by our wetland wildlife, however the tufted hairgrass is keeping us on our toes as it relishes the wet conditions that we have been having. As its name suggests it is a tuft forming low lying plant, which itself presents a challenge, disliked by the animals and hard to hit mechanically. However the late growing season resulted in a successful attempt to knock it back and we saw a reward for all our efforts. The intention is then to encourage the finer grasses to grow more suitable for breeding waders and wintering wildfowl.