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LIFE 13 BIO/UK/000428 EcoCo LIFE Cemetery marsh Baron’s Haugh;

EcoCoLife Monitoring Impact Report. (Action D.2.)

CONTENTS 1. Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. ……..p. 2

2. Background …………………………………………………………………….….……. p. 3

3. Monitoring…………………………………………………………………………………p. 5

3.1 Birds…………………………………………………………………………………p. 5 3.2 Vegetation………………………………………………………….……………….p. 6 3.3 Structure …………………………………………………………….……………...p. 7

4. Future monitoring……………………………………………………….………….........p.10

5. References………………………………………………………………………….........p.11

6. Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………p.11

7 Annex 1. ……………………….................................................................................p.12

Water Rail

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1 Introduction Cemetery Marsh is 3 ha of wetland which is part of the Baron’s Haugh RSPB nature reserve and is part of a chain of wetlands and floodplain grasslands known as the Clyde Haughs (figs. 1 & 2), which runs along the Clyde corridor between Larkhall and Bothwell. Because of a lack of active management over the recent and distant past, the area has dried out and a species-poor Phalaris reedbed and Salix scrub had dominated the site.

Figure 1: Baron’s Haugh location map

Figure 2: Baron’s Haugh’s wider connectivity within the Clyde Haughs

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2 Background The site is owned and managed by the RSPB. Its habitat-types encompass wetland, woodland, meadows and parkland. At Cemetery Marsh, the main aim is to restore existing areas of poor quality marsh into a wetland habitat resource that includes a variety of wetland habitats, including open water, and exposed mud and scrapes, enhancing the biodiversity and amenity value of the reserve. Figs. 3 & 4 illustrate the site before and after management. Fig. 3 shows the species-poor reedbed; fig. 4 is the site showing cleared scrub and open water.

Figure 3: Cemetery Marsh; before management

Figure 4: Cemetery Marsh; after management

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As part of the restoration project, an interpretation panel was installed, as well a wildlife hide/viewing screen (figs 5 & 6).

Figure 5: Cemetery Marsh; interpretation panel

Figure 6: Cemetery Marsh; bird hide/viewing screen

The restoration was carried out in the winter of 2017/18 by the contractors Drumclog machinery, following a plan developed by ECUS Environmental Consultants Ltd (see SNH ref: A2111764). The hide was constructed in 2018 by RSPB volunteers.

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3 Monitoring 3.1 Birds Formal monitoring has been delivered in the form of Wetland Bird Monitoring (WeBS), and casual records of many key and interesting species have been noted in Cemetery Marsh itself, as well as the wider reserve, since the project’s commencement. The WeBS dataset, however, only looks at the reserve as a whole, not specifically Cemetery Marsh as a compartment. (Prior to the restoration, the condition of the marsh was not regarded as being of any particular interest for bird species, and hence was not surveyed). Species of note which have been recorded since the project’s completion include: water rail, grasshopper warbler, green sandpiper (fig.7), and little egret (fig.8). Otters are frequently seen at the reserve and it is likely only a matter of time before they are seen using the newly created Cemetery Marsh pools. Now that the sward in the area is much shorter, roe deer are a regular sighting right in the centre of the marsh, affording good unobstructed views for members of the public.

Figure 7: Green sandpiper

Figure 8: Little egret

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3.2 Vegetation monitoring A baseline NVC survey was undertaken in 2017 prior to restoration works (fig. 9), with a follow-on survey post-work in 2018 (fig. 10). The Salix scrub has been removed, the species poor S28 reed beds have been opened up, and areas of open water with muddy margins have been created (figure 10). Cattle grazing has been introduced, to prevent the future domination of the species poor S28 Phalaris swamp. Unsurprisingly, the vegetation is still in an early stage of succession and the communities haven’t fully developed yet. A full species list and detailed survey notes can be found in SNH ref: A2682275 and SNH ref: A2682276

Figure 9: NVC communities in 2017: pre-restoration

Figure 10: NVC communities in 2018, 6 months post-restoration (16/07/2018)

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3.3 Structure The project undertook to create a series of shallow seasonal pools and permanent open water, surrounded by broad muddy margins (fig. 11).

Figure 11: Contour map of the improved wetland structure (from ECUS: SNH ref: A2111764) At the time of the vegetation monitoring visit (16/07/2018), there had been a record dry period in the early part of 2018. Despite this, the ponds were holding water and still had a wide mud margin formed round the edge (fig. 12). This should provide an attractive stopping point for migrating waders, and has already created habitat for seasonal plants of muddy margins.

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Figure 12: Open water, after prolonged dry spell (16/07/2018)

Figure 12: Aerial image of the eastern scrape in Cemetery Marsh (Feb? 2018)

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Figure 13: Aerial image of the middle scrape in Cemetery Marsh (Feb? 2018)

Figure 12: Aerial image of the Re-profiled ribbon channel in Cemetery Marsh (Feb? 2018)

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Figure 12: Aerial image of the western scrape in Cemetery Marsh (Feb? 2018) 4 Future monitoring plans The intention is to continue monitoring bird populations using the regular WeBS survey. The wetland and its development will continue to be monitored through NVC mapping and aerial photography, with open water monitored using aerial photography.

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5 References WeBS records; RSPB Baronshaugh 2017-2019 EcoCoLife - Wetland - Baronshaugh Cemetery Marsh Plant survey Spreadsheet 16.07.18 SNH ref: A2682275 EcoCoLife - Wetland - Baronshaugh Cemetery Marsh Vegetation Survey 16.07.18 SNH ref: A2682276 RSPB ECUS Cemetery Marsh Design Statement V3 SNH ref: A2111764 Watson (2000) NVC National Vegetation Classification survey of the Clyde Haughs - 2000 – Maps SNH ref: A1429675 Watson (2000) NVC National Vegetation Classification survey of the Clyde Haughs - 2000 – Report SNH ref: A1429671 British Plant communities, volume 5; Maritime communities and vegetation of open habitats. Edit J.S. Rodwell British Plant communities, volume 4; Aquatic communities, swamps and tall herb fens. Edit J.S. Rodwell British Plant communities, volume 2; Mires and Heaths. Edit J.S. Rodwell 6 Acknowledgments Thanks are due to all the WeBS counters and RSPB volunteers who helped in the monitoring work for this project. ECUS Environmental Consultants Ltd, Brook Holt, Blackburn Road, Sheffield S61 2DW www.ecusltd.co.uk

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7 Annex 1 WeBS data for 2017 (12 months), 2018 (12 months) and 2019 (Jan and Feb only):

2017 SPECIES Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

16th 10th 13th 10th 16th 13th 24th 18th 11th 10th 20th 12th

T. 39 88 75 38 5 20 81 164 76 330

MA 14 15 18 15 16 136 182 52 5 18 4 30

GA 1 6 4 3 2 13

SV 4 7 2 1 1

WN 2 2 2 2 50

PT

SU 1 2

PO 1 1 1

TU 2 3 1 1 1 1 2

GN 11 11 9 3 2 4

GD 1 4 5 1 2 4 1 10

MS 6 6 6 5 6 4 2 1 3 2 2 2

WS 5 2 22

GJ 25 1 2 2 47 1

CG 1 1 8 6 2 32 12

LG 1 1 3 1 1 1 14 8 9 17 2 1

GG

CA 2 1 1 1 4 6 4 8 18

H. 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 3 3 4 1

WA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

MH 6 3 1 2 4 4 13 9 8 10 6 1

CO 1 1 4 4 4 6 5 14 5 1 1

OC 1 2

LP

RP

L. 87 144 86 74

RU 1 2

DN 1

SN 2 3

BW 1 15 1

CU 1

RK

GK

CS

GE 7 2 6 1

BH 12 8 1 3 90 58 57 32 6 32

HG 3 7

LB 2 1 4 14 47 8 3 2 2 6

GB

CM 1

KF 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

DI 1 1

HW 2

ET 1 1

Totals 134 139 163 115 91 170 417 393 325 342 149 489

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2018 SPECIES Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

21st 19th 19th 16th 22nd 18th 16th 15th 10th 14th 18th 12th

T. 84 97 91 51 8 11 28 143 133 162 185

MA 21 11 31 10 32 183 320 142 23 23 28 39

GA 6 17 5 6 5 38 2 2

SV 3 1 3 1 3

WN 49 2 6 2 37 5

PT

SU

PO 2 1

TU 19 6 5 2 2 9 6

GN 25 25 18 3 1 3 5

GD 4 8 3 14 4

MS 4 4 4 6 9 7 7 7 9 2 2 2

WS 1 39 5

GJ 8 15 8 60

CG 2 13 6 2 11 9 3

LG 1 2 8 1 2 10 7 5 4 2

GG 2 2 5 3

CA 1 2 2 1 1 7 4 1

H. 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1

WA 1 1 1 1

MH 2 3 1 1 1 2 5 22 5 1 3 2

CO 9 25 16 9 16 13 18 14 3 6 3

OC 2

LP

RP

L. 8 21 76 217

RU

DN 2

SN 2 7 1

BW 1 17 6 1

CU

RK

GK

CS 1 1

GE 2 8 3 2

BH 25 10 9 2 3 112 53 39 54 27 17

HG

LB 37 8 1 2 10 4 1

GB

CM

KF

DI 1

HW

ET

Totals 226 209 237 157 74 234 534 340 421 540 287 265

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2019 SPECIES Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

21st 18th

T. 191 85

MA 39 11

GA

SV

WN 3

PT

SU 1

PO

TU

GN 5 5

GD 3

MS 2 5

WS

GJ

CG 2

LG 4 2

GG

CA 2 3

H. 1 1

WA 2

MH 3

CO 4 4

OC

LP

RP

L. 15 10

RU

DN

SN

BW

CU 37

RK

GK

CS

GE

BH 120 18

HG 50

LB

GB

CM

KF

DI

HW

ET

Totals 474 154