Reen Work at Magor Marsh Reserve

This autumn’s dry spell has come at just the right time.  It’s enabled some much needed works to the reens (large drainage ditches) and the pond to take place at Magor Marsh Nature Reserve on the Gwent Levels.  Some of the reens (large drainage ditches) at Magor, have through the years, become very overgrown.

By removing some of the shading willow we are allowing more light and hence life back into the reens. This will benefit a host of wildlife including the great diving beetle one of our largest beetles and also the elusive otter. Working on separate sections of reen means we allow life from the undisturbed stretches to recolonise the more favourable clear sections once the machinery has moved out. We have minimised disturbance to the species rich hay meadows by working from the north side of the hay meadows. Many of the trees have been cut back as pollards; the traditional way to manage trees on the Gwent Levels. This puts willow re-growth out of reach of browsing animals.

Regular visitors to the bird hide will have seen the reed encroaching year on year onto the shallow bank in front of the bird hide. To maintain open water in the pond and keep the reed growth in check we have now deepened the pond in front of the bird hide. This will extend the natural life of the pond and should ensure better views across the pond for years to come. In the corner of the pond some posts are holding back the mud dredged from the pond. In time this bank will become a semi artificial nesting bank we hope for either kingfishers or sand martins.

Nesting Bank at Magor Marsh Reserve

Now the heavy works are completed the reed and bank-side vegetation are already moving into the areas of bare mud and within months the mud will have disappeared beneath a carpet of green.

This work has been made possible by the collaborative Wetlands for Wildlife project which is supported by Biffaward, the Environment Agency Wales, BBC’s Breathing Places, the Caldicot and Went Looge Levels Internal Drainage Board and the Countryside Council for Wales.  The support from these organisations has been essential in enabling the Gwent Wildlife Trust to deliver the wildlife habitat improvements to this important nature reserve.