During my morning stroll around the reed bed at Greylake this morning, I started to think about the biodiversity an environment like reeds provide and why they are so popular at reserves like Greylake.
During my induction as an RSPB volunteer, it was explained to me that the fields at Greylake used to be arable farmland when the drive from European policy makers to produce more food led to widespread use of fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and artificial fertiliser. This damaged the land and infected water systems that insects, birds and plants relied upon. Arable farming has changed dramatically since then, with many farmers now actively encouraging wildlife onto their land. However, many management plans had to be implemented to make the land suitable for wildlife once again. Thus reed beds have been used. This is because once the reeds are well established they can provide a well balanced safe waste water treatment solution as they have an astonishing capability to purify the effluent in the environment, leaving the soil free of nitrates, phosphates, toxic substances and turbidity. This is achieved both directly by the reeds themselves, which utilize the nitrogenous biological content as their nutrient source as well as directly extracting large volumes of water by transpiration. On a hot summer day a mature reed bed will transpire one centimetre of water. In addition reed beds are also good for carbon dioxide emission capture and sequestration, and add considerably to the local biodiversity due to their suitability as an important habitat for birds such as reed warblers and reed buntings. Several rare species of birds such as the bittern and bearded tit are also dependent on reed beds for their survival. It’s not just the birdlife that benefits from these remarkable tall grass habitats but many insects such as moths, beetles and snails also depend on them.
Reed bunting - Photo: Nick Stacey
So why not pop along to Greylake and come and see biodiversity in action for yourself. Sorry about the weather though. That's the one thing just beyond our control. Thankfully Greylake has a lovely hide so do come and read our information boards in the hide and find out more. And still quite a few snipe, wigeon, and teal on Greylake, good numbers of lapwing, and the kestrel is a regular visitor too.
By Bev Phillips - Volunteer Information Warden
Trish Harper