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Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

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Guiding principles for fen management, restoration and creation<br />

– Maintain or create ‘the right fen in the right place’. This means the<br />

most appropriate type for the geo-hydrological setting.<br />

– Aim for diversity, not uniformity. Resist the temptation to create the<br />

same type of fen everywhere just because it is easy to do so.<br />

– Take account of the surroundings and neighbouring habitats, such<br />

as lowland bog, wet grassland and wet woodland, in order to complete<br />

eco-hydrological units.<br />

– Consider the site within the context of the wider landscape. Many of<br />

today’s small fen sites and other wetlands are remnants of what were<br />

once much more extensive wetland systems.<br />

Section 5: <strong>Fen</strong> <strong>Management</strong> and Restoration outlines some of the common<br />

problems associated with managing fens and provides a framework for deciding<br />

when intervention may be necessary to maintain wildlife interest. Section 5 also<br />

offers guidance on setting objectives, identifying which type of fen to aim for and<br />

appropriate management options. Section 6: <strong>Fen</strong> Vegetation <strong>Management</strong>,<br />

Section 7: <strong>Fen</strong> Water <strong>Management</strong> and Section 8: Managing <strong>Fen</strong> Nutrient<br />

Enrichment explore in more detail the many different techniques for fen<br />

management.<br />

When planning any project involving fens and other wetland habitats, it is essential<br />

to be aware of the legal and regulatory context and requirements. These are<br />

summarised in Appendix V. It is strongly recommended that anyone considering<br />

a fen or wetland related project should contact the relevant authorities at an early<br />

stage; they are there to help, advise and facilitate, and have access to a wealth of<br />

experience.<br />

1.5 <strong>Fen</strong> creation<br />

Prompted by the dramatic reduction in the number, extent and wildlife interest<br />

of many fens, various projects are under way to create new fen habitat. In East<br />

Anglia, for example, The Great <strong>Fen</strong> Project aims to create 3,000 ha of fen in<br />

Cambridgeshire, where 138,000 ha of the county was once a complex of wetland<br />

habitats, including fen. Section 9: Creating <strong>Fen</strong> Habitat considers opportunities<br />

for fen creation and the practicalities involved.<br />

1.6 Monitoring<br />

Monitoring is essential to demonstrate change, to gauge the effectiveness of<br />

management and to inform what changes might be necessary to meet agreed<br />

objectives. Section 10: Monitoring to Inform <strong>Fen</strong> <strong>Management</strong> explains the<br />

range of techniques applicable to different aspects of fens, including water quality<br />

and quantity, flora and fauna and different methods of data analysis.<br />

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