Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Cutting sites in small patches, avoiding very wet or unstable parts, ensures that
some tall vegetation is left standing to provide habitat continuity for associated flora
and fauna and is more desirable on fens of high conservation value than large-scale
short rotation cutting.
116
All mowing techniques cut to a uniform height reducing variability within
the vegetation, which in turn, can result in loss of associated flora and
fauna. This is a particular problem for invertebrates and other animals
dependent on tussocks. Mechanical cutting or mowing can also cause
damage through compaction, even where specially designed machinery
is used to reduce ground pressure.
6.3.3 Cutting and mowing machinery
Various types of mowing and cutting machinery are suitable for use on fens. Hand
tools or small machines can be ideal for small, isolated sites, but are neither cost
effective nor viable on large areas of fen. Up until recently, the major limitation on
fen management was often not the cutting but the gathering and removal of cut
material from sites. Mechanical developments have revolutionised fen management,
enabling the Broads Authority to cut 250 ha fen each year. The main types of
machinery used for cutting and mowing fens are:
Small hand-operated mowers, best suited to small basin fens such as those
found in the drumlin belts of Northern Ireland or the Scottish Borders.
Pedestrian-driven mowers with reciprocating blades, as used by most modernday
reed and sedge cutters, and equally suitable for conservation mowing. They
can cope with tall, thick reeds, sedges, grasses and herbs. Walk behind brush
mowers are also an important tool for conservation mowing. These work like a large
tractor-driven field mower, scaled down to affordable walk-behind size which is
ideal for keeping tall vegetation under control, including small woody saplings.
Pedestrian mower being
used to cut fen meadow
(A.McBride).