Welcome To Wirral

This type of grassland is found on low lying alluvial and, occasionally, peat soils, around estuaries and along the floodplains of rivers. It is characterised by a water table at or above ground level for some part of the year. This seasonal inundation gives the vegetation a distinctive composition, with species such as creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, marsh foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus, ryegrass Lolium perenne, crested dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus, marsh marigold Caltha palustris, strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum and silverweed Potentilla anserina. Some examples in the North West support more uncommon species, such as whorled caraway Carum verticillatum, lesser marshwort Apium inundatum, meadow barley Hordeum secalinum and tubular water dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa. The majority of these grasslands, however, tend to be moderately species poor.

Important components of the grazing marsh ecosystem are the ditches that often form the field boundaries in this flat landscape. These can support a variety of marginal and aquatic plant species, including greater reedmace Typha latifolia, canary reed-grass Phalaris arundinacea, water plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica, broadleaved pondweed Potantogeton natans, water crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis and common duckweed Lemna minor and, more rarely, water violet Hottonia palustris and bladderworts Utricularia spp. These ditches also support a variety of animals including water birds like moorhen Gallinula chloropus and invertebrates such as the blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura elegans and emerald damselfly Lestes sponsa. Water vole Arvicola terrestris may also be present along these ditches.

Grazing marshes are of major significance for breeding, passage and wintering birds. Typical breeding birds of grazing marsh include redshank Tringa totanus, snipe Gallinago gallinago, lapwing Vanellus vanellus and yellow wagtail Amotacilla flava. Rarer breeding species include ruff Philomachus pugnax and black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa. In winter large numbers of pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus, Bewick's swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii, whooper swan Cygnus cygnus, wigeon Anas penelope, teal Anas crecca, barnacle goose Branta leucopsis, lapwing and golden plover Pluvialis apricariu feed on grazing marshes.

Water table height, substrate type, the duration and extent of inundation at specific times of the year, together with the maintenance of low intensity agricultural management and lack of human disturbance, are the most important factors determining the suitability of wet grassland sites as breeding and wintering localities for birds. The botanical composition is a relatively unimportant factor in this respect.

The exact extent of grazing marsh in the UK is not known, but it is possible that there may be a total of 300,000 ha. However only a small proportion of this is semi-natural supporting a high diversity of native plant species, an estimated 10 000 ha in the UK.

1.2 Local

Wirral has large areas that were once naturally inundated by both sea water and fresh water. However, the demands of industry and housing, and the perceived need for improved agricultural land has led to the drainage of non-coastal areas along, and the straightening of rivers, whilst sea defence works for land gain have caused the loss of coastal grazing marsh. The only specific grazing marsh site within Wirral with legal protection is Meols Meadow SSSI on the Wirral Peninsula, which covers 7.1ha.

1.3 Legal

Nothing currently proposed.

2. Current Factors Causing Loss or Decline

• Ecologically insensitive flood defence works.
• Agricultural intensification.
• Neglect in the form of a decline in traditional management.
• Eutrophication,
• Industrialisation and urbanisation
• Saltwater flooding dues to sea level rise.
• Groundwater abstraction.
• Pollution of groundwater or surface water.
• Aggregate extraction
• Overgrazing
• Disturbance by human recreation

3. Current Action

3.1 National

The EA and Water companies have a statutory duty to further conservation, set out in the Water Resources Act 1991 and Land Drainage Act 1991. These organisations also have a statutory responsibility for pollution control.

3.2 Local

The LEAP for the Mersey has many proposals which will significantly influence the actual and potential floodplain grazing marsh.

Sites designated as SSSI are also protected under W&CA 1981 and CROW 2000.

Grazing marsh is one of the habitats being targeted for grant aid through Countryside Stewardship, although at present there are no areas of grazing marsh within this scheme. (Application for Gowy Meadows is currently under consideration by DEFRA).

A Water Level Management Plan (1997) has been prepared by the Environment Agency for the Gowy meadows and ditches SBI.

Statutory protection of the habitat through SSSI and RAMSAR designation and ESA notification.

The Wildlife Trusts awareness raising campaign, entitled 'Water of Life'.

Liverpool Bay Natural Area Profile (EN1998) includes a section on grazing marsh.

CWT carried out a survey of the Shell owned area of Gowy Meadows during summer 1999.

Gowy Meadows is now under CWT management (leased from Shell) and an application for Countryside Stewardship is awaiting approval.

4. Key Species

Awaiting details

5. Objectives and Targets

To maintain the existing habitat extent and quality.

To restore over-grazed or drained grazing marsh habitat.

To create new areas of grazing marsh habitat

6. Proposed Actions

Survey the habitat, targeting the area within the Environment Agency defined floodplain, in particular in the Area around Meols Meadow SSSI.

Assess the results of the survey to establish existing wildlife potential and areas which could be developed and enhanced.

To identify and actively involve the landowners in restoration and maintenance projects.

To raise awareness of the importance of grazing marsh habitat.

To promote the existing programme of water level management plans for grazing marsh SSSIs.

To promote existing grant schemes.

To ensure flood defence schemes are undertaken in an ecologically sensitive manner.

Inclusion of issues relating to this habitat in LEAPs.

To comment on abstraction licenses.

7. Resources

None calculated.

8. Links To Other Action Plans

Wirral Council's Unitary Development Plan (UDP)

Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Meols Meadow SSSI Management Plan (not seen)

UK BAP Coastal and Floodplain Habitat Action Plan (HAP)

Wirral BAP Water Vole Species Action Plan

Environment Agencies Mersey LEAP

8.1 Conflicts

None identified.

9. Contact Points

Senior Coastal Ranger, Wirral Council.
Telephone: (0151) 678 5488.

Irish Sea Forum
North Western and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee
Seawatch Foundation
Hilbre Bird Observatory
RSPB
RSPCA
Sea Mammal Research Unit

10. References

A Biodiversity Audit of North West England

A Costed Action Plan for Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marshes is included in the UK Steering Group Report (1995).

EN: Liverpool Bay Natural Area Profile