Fixing and Linking Our Wetlands Project
March 2016 - end of June 2021
The Severals by Jocelyn Coates, 2018
The Fixing and Linking Our Wetlands (FLOW) Project has been funded to restore wetland across the Manhood Peninsula, to secure vital habitat for wildlife and improve local flood management. This conservation work is powered by a dedicated team and active volunteers, trained in natural heritage skills.
AIMS
To prevent flooding and protect wildlife, through the restoration and reconnection of wetland features. To encourage local parishes to care for their environment and train individuals in natural flood management techniques.
BACKGROUND
Wetland features, such as ditches, mudflats, ponds and streams, bring many benefits to people and wildlife. Wetlands naturally clear our drinking water of pollutants and provide a vital source of food and shelter to 70% of the planet’s wildlife species. Well managed wetlands also absorb excess rainfall and allow water to flow freely out to sea, which safeguards communities against flooding events.
The wetland network on the Manhood Peninsula is particularly important as it connects three protected areas; Pagham Harbour, Medmerry Nature Reserve, and Chichester Harbour. Without safe and connected waterways, wetland species can become isolated and suffer population decline from a lack of breeding opportunities and subsequent loss of genetic diversity.
Water vole numbers in the UK are declining rapidly due to loss of suitable and connected wetland habitats.
In 2015, the National Lottery Heritage Fund funded a pilot phase of the FLOW project, which completed a condition assessment of ditches in West Wittering and produced of a map of the parish’s wetland features. A wetland management plan was created from this data and a further five-years of funding were granted to the project, to implement the plan across the whole peninsula.
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METHODS
The project is led by Jane Reeve and also employs a team who lead practical fieldwork and highlight the importance of wetlands, through local events and online engagement. An active volunteer group regularly help the FLOW team carry out surveys and restoration work.
Surveying
Tree Planting
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Landscaping
Wildlife and Habitat Surveying
A healthy inland wetland habitat has surrounding hedgerows and tree cover, direct access to sunlight, free flowing drainage, and attracts a variety of wildlife species. Sites are surveyed for these features to inform an individualised restoration plan. These surveys are repeated annually to monitor improvements in flood water management and wildlife activity.
Bat, moth, and water vole population numbers are of particular interest, as their presence indicates the habitat is well connected and thriving. Signs of invasive American Mink are monitored and sightings are uploaded to the national Biological Record’s Centre database, via the iRecord website. The mink population is strictly controlled in the UK, to protect water voles and ground nesting sea birds from predation.
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American Mink (Neovison vison)
Restoration Work
Key aspects of the restoration process include filling in sparse hedgerows, planting native trees, and stabilizing banks with the addition of riparian plants. This improves the habitat as a whole and increases safe travel routes for wildlife, along the waterways.
Debris and vegetation, which obstruct water flow, are removed from ditches to prevent stagnant water and nearby surface flooding. Ponds with poor water holding potential are excavated with diggers by external contractors, to increase their capacity.
If a watercourse is too overshadowed by previously unmanaged trees, these trees are trimmed back or cut down to the ground (coppiced) to bring much needed sunlight to the oxygenating plants that live in the water. Coppiced wood is stacked on site to create ‘dead hedge’ habitats for insects.
Education and Training
Volunteers are trained in traditional skills of coppicing and hedge laying, as well as other landscaping, planting, surveying, GIS mapping, and wildlife identification techniques.
Engaging with the community through schools, local events, and online campaigns, allows the project to increase awareness of the importance of wetland habitats. The team also work closely with landowners and produce information guides to make wetland management skills accessible to everyone.
The FLOW Project has created an in depth template for carrying out wetland management projects. This template includes recommended steps for pre-work data gathering, improvement work and ongoing post work management. Specific advice for improving habitats for water voles, is also detailed in this guide.
View the FLOW method for wetland habitat improvement.
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Read the independent review, by Gray’s Ecology, of the Mink monitoring methods used by FLOW project volunteers. This report includes the results of the monitoring carried out from 2017 to 2021, on the Manhood Peninsula.
RESULTS
To date, 50 wetland sites have been restored in West Wittering, Apuldram, Donnington, Earnley, East Wittering & Bracklesham, Hunston, North Mundham, Selsey, Sidlesham, West Itchenor and Birdham, and over 10,000 trees have been planted in these parishes.
In 25% of sites that previously had no water voles, their presence was noted within 12 months of restoration work starting and an increase in sightings of kingfishers and bat species, have also been recorded. These positive results are expected to increase as the habitats naturally develop over time.
Download the FLOW Wetlands Trail Guide to discover the beautiful sites restored throughout the project.
The guide is divided into nine out of the eleven parishes on the Manhood Peninsula. Each parish has a map showing the site locations, and some parishes have a short walking route option, giving you an exciting opportunity to encounter other fascinating local heritage features along the way. Just look out for the footprints...
Extensive reports have been made to document the progress achieved in each parish.