It's all about them reeds

Where were we?

We were working on a water treatment site owned by Severn Trent Water in Blyth, Southeast of Northumberland, and Northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne. The site was next to Blyth port and adjacent to the River Blyth near the mouth of the Estuary leading to the coast. The water treatment site historically was a coal mining site where it was easily transported through the ‘busiest port in England’ at Blyth in 1961, where it shipped 6 million tonnes of coal. To make use of a site that had lagoon like ponds, Severn Trent now use this site to provide an amenity in providing clean drinking water for the town of Blyth and neighboring coastal villages.

On the Severn Trent site there were 6 lagoons varying in size and depth. The largest lagoon was situated at the back of the site nearest the mouth of the Estuary where it undergoes a cycle of planting and removal of reeds every couple of years, acting as a natural way to filtrate wastewater better than mechanical treatment. The reeds are removed to remove the substrate that is highly contaminated with contaminants such as iron and Phosphates and then replanted.

Smaller end of the lagoon to plant

Numerous species for large scale plantation

What were we conserving?

Several TCV teams across Scotland and the North planted 10+ native species of reeds including (Phragmites australis) the Common reed. The Common reed is commonly the dominant species that can cover 60% of wetlands, can grow to 2-4 metres tall and has an extensive root system. Smaller species of reed such as the Yellow Iris (Iris pseudocorus), Sea such (Juncus maritimus) and Cordgrass (Spartina maritima) have been planted on the outer perimeter to allow pollinating insects access especially to the intricate flowering Iris’s and to create gradual land to water transition.

Across the UK there is currently 5,000 hectares of reedbed in the UK at 900 sites which are fundamentally restricted and smaller compared to other habitats such as woodlands where there are efforts in creating connectivity. Since 1945, 40% of reed beds have been lost and 90% since Roman times and are continuing to dramatically decline and becoming scarce.

Cell grown reed plugs

Yellow Iris

Why is this conservation important?

Reedbeds have declined in the UK due to destruction for development and drainage of wetlands. Our usage of dried reeds for traditional thatched cottage roofs has declined as there is limited demand for this raw material nowadays. Reedbeds require wetland habitat to thrive due to the moisture and substrate composition so it is not surprising that correspondingly wetlands are also declining across the UK.

50cmx50cm reed plantation format 

Large scale reed planting projects provide habitat for many species such as the rare Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) is habitat specific and will only breed and nest in thick reed vegetation known also as a habitat specialist. In 1885 the Bitten was extinct in the UK after persecution and habitat loss but some individuals returned to Norfolk in 1900. The population since has yoyoed from 80 breeding males in the 1950s down to 11 males in 1997. Currently there are only a small population in Norfolk and Lancashire and some fragmented individuals at Barton Upon Humber at Far Ings Nature Reserve. Reed beds are fundamentally the lifeline to breeding for the Bittern and without planting ad improving wetlands and reed beds this species will go extinct again from the UK.

Another species which is dependent on reedbeds is the Water vole (Arvicola amphibibius) and again has been drastically affected by decline in habitat and environmental availability and quality. Without reed beds acting as a

refuge the Water vole is being predated on by the American mink (Neovison vison). Predation rate declined tremendously where voles could be further in the middle of a water channel. Consequently, reedbeds are now being a focus in connecting vole populations and providing stability across England and Wales.

How to get involved?

This was a residential project that only TCV received an accepted proposal for in partnership with Severn Trent water. There are TCV teams offering weekly tasks for volunteers throughout the UK; encouraging everyone to get outside and have a go and feel apart of the team. Currently Covid-19 is limiting volunteer availability but with the road map set out and with social distancing in place, restrictions are being eased. Have a look for your local TCV office and opportunities like this residential may come up in the future. Being a volunteer for TCV is very rewarding.

More Information

Blyth Town Council - History

Reedbed | Sussex Wildlife Trust

Why wetlands | WWT

Phragmites australis (common reed) (cabi.org)

The RSPB: News: Wetland loss threatens wildlife and people,

Bringing Reedbeds To Life Conservation Project - The RSPB

Bittern Population Trends - The RSPB

Puglisi, L. and Bretagnolle, V., 2005. Breeding Biology of the Great Bittern. Waterbirds, 28(3), pp.392-398.

Carter, S. and Bright, P., 2003. Reedbeds as refuges for water voles (Arvicola terrestris) from predation by introduced mink (Mustela vison). Biological Conservation, 111(3), pp.371-376.