the role of constructed wetlands in the agricultural landscape
Post on 20-Nov-2021
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The role of constructed wetlands in the
agricultural landscape
a collaborative project between
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) and
the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)
Philippa Mansfield - Catchment Sensitive Farming
Catherine McIlwraith & Sally Mackenzie - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Water Framework Directive objective
Good Ecological Status of water bodies
Agriculture significant source of
diffuse water pollution
– sediment, nitrates, microbes,
phosphates, pesticides and impact on
aquatic habitats
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) provides training
and grants to farmers to tackle diffuse water pollution
Sediment trap
Soil & water management
Yard workswww.naturalengland.org.uk/csf
CSF farm case studies - River Eye catchment
Simple CSF grant aided silt
trap to collect drainage from
track and local drain
In-stream wooden boards & coya
matting on banks to trap silt and
reduce sedimentation of river
CSF Officer, Des Kay with Environmental Stewardship and Environment Agency
CSF collaboration with WWT
• WWT experienced in building, maintaining and monitoring
different constructed wetlands for a range of benefits
• Potential for constructed wetlands use as part of CSF
approach to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture
• Plus flood control, biodiversity & amenity benefits
• Funding options - CSF, EA & Environmental Stewardship
• Issues – cost, grants, land loss, EA permits, re-mobilisation
of phosphate, pollutant strength, design options
• Farmers/advisers need to understand where/how to use
constructed wetlands & how to manage them
Training for farm advisers – CSF, NE, EA
Guidance on use of constructed wetlands
Video for use in farmer/adviser training
Guidance document – constructed farm wetlands
• Aimed at farm advisers, primarily Catchment Sensitive Farming
Officers, Natural England and Environment Advisers.
• Provides information and examples on the use of constructed
wetlands and sustainable drainage systems on farms and how
these features can be designed to enhance biodiversity.
• Different types of constructed wetlands and sustainable
drainage systems are described, with guidance on their
suitability for different farm situations and pollution issues,
location, design, costs, permits required and case studies.
• Now available to Catchment Sensitive Farming, Natural
England and Environment Agency advisers
Wetland options covered by guidance
• Swales, in-ditch wetlands,
sediment ponds, constructed
wetlands (diffuse effluent) &
constructed wetlands (point
source effluent)
• Uses a star rating system to
explain complexity of options
e.g. 2 stars for basic sediment
ponds up to 5 stars for
wetlands treating high
strength effluent
Training day
• January 2013, WWT Slimbridge
• Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers, Environment Agency and
Higher Level Stewardship advisers from Natural England attended.
• Day consisted of:
o Presentation on wetland
options on farms along
with case studies
o Screening of the WWT-
made video on
constructed farm
wetlands
o Visit around the wetland
treatment systems at
Slimbridge
Video
• Produced by WWT Media
team
• Created to complement the
guidance document and
show the creation of a farm
constructed wetland.
• CSF to use video for farmer
and adviser training
Further outcomes of the collaboration
• WWT working with Natural England to develop options for
constructed wetlands & Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) for
the RDPE funded New Environmental Land Management Scheme
• CSF farm demonstration event on sediment ponds
• Feasibility studies on use of reed beds on dairy farms
• Water Framework Directive project on use of constructed wetlands to
protect a SSSI with CSF advice on soil management to reduce erosion
• Environment Agency reviewing their position on use of constructed
wetlands for diffuse water pollution control
• Potential for improving water quality using constructed wetlands
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