Lower Moor pollards and scrape management

Management of two of the important natural features of the site, to ensure continued value for wildlife. The work will involve pollarding 50 old willows (over 2 years) to increase the longevity of the trees. Their age means they have many fissures, holes and other natural features associated with aging trees which provide nesting and feeding areas for birds, small mammals and invertebrates. The second feature is the ‘scrape’ which is managed for passage wading birds, wintering wildfowl and nesting birds. The scrape is fed with water from the Lench Ditch via a sluice and ditch. Replacement of the sluice-boards is required periodically to control the amount of water being pushed into the scrape. The ditch which feeds the scrape now requires some clearing to allow unrestricted flow of water. Fencing will be required to prevent livestock from poaching the ground around the ditch.