Hi there, I am Bailey and I have been a new edition to the RSPB team. I am currently completing my university placement year with the RSPB and have been studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Reading for the last two years. Over my first two months as part of the team I have been able to get stuck in with many different projects, both at The Lodge and Fowlmere. I have learnt lots about conservation as a whole and about what it takes to be part of the RSPB and have really enjoyed my experience so far.
As the days grow colder and autumn sets in, one of the long running tasks that starts up again is that of tree popping in the heaths at The Lodge. This is where smaller birch and scots pine trees/saplings are removed from the heath, piled up and then burned. While this may seem to be nothing more than a destructive task that does little good for nature, there is logic behind it. Heathlands require soil that is very poor in nutrients and is fairly acidic. Plants like bracken and brambles find it hard to grow here, which leaves room for other species which can tolerate the poorer soil. Heather in particular can be very easily outcompeted by bracken and brambles, but can thrive here thanks to the lack of competitor species.
Gorse and broom are also adapted to grow in poorer soils, and are regular heathland species too. The issues arise when these plants die off and break down to release their nutrients back into the soil, or animals introduce their own nutrients in their droppings. This will create areas of higher quality soil where bracken, brambles and other species can grow, outcompeting the heather. This will cause the heathland to shrink, as areas of thick bracken begin to take over, eventually allowing trees to root and a woodland to form after many years. So, by regularly removing smaller trees or saplings using a tool called a tree popper, hence the name, we can help to remove excess nutrients from the soil and give our very important heathland the best chance possible to thrive.
Over at Fowlmere, you may have noticed our six stabilizer cows, grazing happily on site. These cows aren't just there to look happy; they are actually performing an important job. Their constant grazing helps to maintain a healthy level of grasses, reeds and other plants in our meadows. When cows graze, they mostly rip plants out rather than biting and cutting them. This helps to create an uneven and natural level of grasses, which is perfect for varies species of invertebrates and birds such as curlews and redshank. They will also create bare patches of earth, called scrapes, which can appear to be devoid of life. These scrapes however, are perfect for certain species such as lapwings and snipe. These birds nest in scrapes, and are both species in decline, being classed as red-listed and amber-listed species respectively. Therefore, our six cows are doing a terrific job at creating nesting habitats for these threatened birds without even knowing it.
One of the things that makes the RSPB what it is are its volunteers, people giving up their spare time to help out on projects and give a little back to nature. Volunteer work parties can be the backbone in helping to maximize how effective a task can be, as 6-8 people can cover a wider area than just a warden and myself. It also creates a nice opportunity for volunteers to meet new people, and everyone is welcome. Tree popping is a regular activity for The Lodge’s work parties, which makes all the difference in speeding up the task and making as big an impact as possible. The Lodge work parties have also been replacing rotten steps around the site and our Roaming Ranger volunteers regularly check up on the site as a whole to help keep us aware of any issues or places for improvement as they develop.
Over at Fowlmere, work parties have helped to mow large areas of meadow, clearing built up sediment out of our waterways around the boardwalk, and have very recently begun the big task of replacing the existing bridge over the River Shep. The old bridge was in dire need of being replaced, and we have all been hard at work constructing the best bridge possible. This has meant that the path around Fowlmere has been disrupted, but the bridge is coming along nicely and hopefully is not far off being open to the public, all thanks to the amazing effort from our volunteers and staff.
Hopefully this will not be the last time you hear from me, as I plan on making regular updates on what is going on at The Lodge and Fowlmere over my placement year, and all of us at the RSPB look forward to seeing you soon!
Images courtesy of Bailey and Robin Gilmore