Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Guiding principles for fen management, restoration and creation
– Maintain or create ‘the right fen in the right place’. This means the
most appropriate type for the geo-hydrological setting.
– Aim for diversity, not uniformity. Resist the temptation to create the
same type of fen everywhere just because it is easy to do so.
– Take account of the surroundings and neighbouring habitats, such
as lowland bog, wet grassland and wet woodland, in order to complete
eco-hydrological units.
– Consider the site within the context of the wider landscape. Many of
today’s small fen sites and other wetlands are remnants of what were
once much more extensive wetland systems.
Section 5: Fen Management and Restoration outlines some of the common
problems associated with managing fens and provides a framework for deciding
when intervention may be necessary to maintain wildlife interest. Section 5 also
offers guidance on setting objectives, identifying which type of fen to aim for and
appropriate management options. Section 6: Fen Vegetation Management,
Section 7: Fen Water Management and Section 8: Managing Fen Nutrient
Enrichment explore in more detail the many different techniques for fen
management.
When planning any project involving fens and other wetland habitats, it is essential
to be aware of the legal and regulatory context and requirements. These are
summarised in Appendix V. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering
a fen or wetland related project should contact the relevant authorities at an early
stage; they are there to help, advise and facilitate, and have access to a wealth of
experience.
1.5 Fen creation
Prompted by the dramatic reduction in the number, extent and wildlife interest
of many fens, various projects are under way to create new fen habitat. In East
Anglia, for example, The Great Fen Project aims to create 3,000 ha of fen in
Cambridgeshire, where 138,000 ha of the county was once a complex of wetland
habitats, including fen. Section 9: Creating Fen Habitat considers opportunities
for fen creation and the practicalities involved.
1.6 Monitoring
Monitoring is essential to demonstrate change, to gauge the effectiveness of
management and to inform what changes might be necessary to meet agreed
objectives. Section 10: Monitoring to Inform Fen Management explains the
range of techniques applicable to different aspects of fens, including water quality
and quantity, flora and fauna and different methods of data analysis.
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