Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Whitlaw Mosses in Scotland (see detailed case study at the end of
Section 6: Vegetation Management) has benefitted from participation
of neighbouring farmers in the Environmentally Sensitive Area agrienvironment
scheme which was established to improve management of
the mires, by converting arable land within the catchments to permanent
grassland and reducing nutrient inputs. Farmers now have the option to
continue receiving payments for this kind of sympathetic management
under the SRDP.
Large-scale funding for environmental and nature conservation projects not
financed by the EC’s standard financial agricultural instruments is also available
through the EU LIFE scheme.
In 2008, a 5 million Euro LIFE+ grant was obtained for the restoration
of alkaline fens to favorable or recovering condition within the Anglesey
and Lleyn Fens in North Wales.
In 2007, the RSPB won a LIFE+ grant in part to protect vital freshwater
habitats from destruction relating to climate change.
12.6.2 Commercial sponsorship
Some companies are prepared to fund wetland work in return for good media
publicity and on-site acknowledgement, or on the basis of extra business from
which they may benefit if extra people come to visit a site. Locally-based companies
may be particularly receptive to approaches for funding for small scale initiatives.
Doxey and Tillington Marshes SSSI, an extensive wetland that runs almost into
the centre of Stafford, are an excellent example of innovative funding for fen
management. Screwfix and Arnold Clark, who recently developed commercial
premises in the area, both donated funds for this site.
Regular informal recreational use is very high with around 42,000 visits per year, in
addition to those using the cycle path along an old railway track that crosses the
site. This enabled the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to secure Lottery funding for a
new pathway system that has improved amenity, further increased visitor numbers,
and very effectively reduced disturbance to breeding birds.
12.6.3 Other funding sources
The National Lottery has funded numerous wetland creation and management
projects through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Awards for All. Many local
authorities have funding co-ordinators who can help advise on Lottery and other
sources of funding.
The Cooperative Bank, in association with the RSPB, raised over £2 million
between 1999 and 2002 for reed-bed restoration in East Anglia through their
charity credit card scheme. The RSPB received £18 for every account opened and
25p for every £100 spent.
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