The site

Owned by Buckinghamshire County Council, the park has 530 acres of attractive woodland, grassland and heathland with a centre-piece lake.

The brief

Maydencroft Rural was commisioned to design a 400 square metre reedbed at the most north easterly part of the lake. This is to create a transition between the Alder Carr and the open water.

The solution

Debris was removed from the site by means of two men in a boat and a Unimog and 7 tonne winch from the bank. The material was dragged through the silt and brought out of the water for disposal. This not only tidied the site but also levelled the silt and prepared it for planting.

Hazel faggots were then laid around the boundary of the reed bed. Pre-vegetated coir rolls were then laid and staked with hazel on the hazel fagots and, if protected with wire cages.

Approximately 10-15 fenced planting areas were created within the reed bed. This was designed to stop birds being able to fly in and eat the young reeds.

The planting areas were then planted with Phragmites australis plugs.

The result

Reedbeds are amongst the most important habitats for birds in the UK. They support a distinctive group of breeding birds including 6 nationally rare Red Data Birds. There are only about 5000 ha of reedbeds in the UK and we are helping to create a very important habitat.

If you are interested in constructing a reedbed, please contact us or a free quotation info@maydencroftrural.com