Hi,

The conservation team have been back out undertaking habitat management around the Marian Mawr pools. On this occasion we were busy cutting back vegetation on the islands, a continuation of work which began last winter. Regular visitors to the reserve will remember the substantial amount of scrub which was removed from the large island in front of the Marian Mawr hide in the hope of getting the area into top condition for breeding and feeding wetland birds.

With boat in tow the team headed across the choppy waters to tackle the forest of rosebay willowherb, bramble and juncus. Armed with brushcutters, loppers and rakes the vegetation was quickly cleared, leaving the islands in favourable condition for next years breeding season.

Sylvia got stuck into the willow re-growth

Back on the mainland the team handed over vegetation control to the reserve’s herd of Welsh mountain ponies. Over the next few weeks the ponies will be grazing around the pool edges to further reduce the grass sward height, which will encourage species such as wigeon and curlew to forage in the area.

The reserve’s Welsh mountain ponies will hopefully make short work of the vegetation around the Marian Mawr pools.

Cheers,

Adam