Habitat Improvements at Upton Warren Wetland

The project involves essential habitat restoration work at Upton Warren Wetland Reserve – a 26ha SSSI, one of WWT’s flagship reserves. The new project will address the problem of decreasing open water and diminishing wetland habitat. This is a natural process and has occurred over a number of years. The project will include the following conservation work to rectify the problem:•dredging the pools and reed beds of silt and rhizhomes; •ditch and drain restoration to increase water flow into the reed beds; •bund creation incorporating purpose built grass snake hibernacula; •reed planting; •new pool creation.The actual capital work will impact on wildlife and it is important that the project includes species survey work to gather baseline data before work starts. Ultimately, the project will have long-lasting and significant benefits to priority wildlife species on this flagship nature reserve.