Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

5.12 Develop and implement a strategy to achieve desired objectives
All of the preceding stages should be drawn together in an effective strategy to
achieve agreed objectives.
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– International legal obligations, such as Ramsar and the EU Habitats &
Species Directive should take precedence.
– National legal obligations, such as those applying to SSSIs and ASSIs
must be observed.
Making Choices: management strategies and options (adapted from Benstead et al, 1999)
Habitat
condition
Fen with high
wildlife interest in
good condition
Fen with moderate
wildlife interest
with potential
for improvement
(e.g. partially
drained fen with
some scrub
encroachment,
and
suspected nutrient
enrichment)
Area with potential
for fen but
currently drained
and managed as
other habitat, e.g.
arable land or dry
grassland
Management
strategy
Maintain existing
management
Improve/modify
management
Implement
creation/
restoration
programme
(see Section 9:
Fen Creation)
Management options
Water management:
Determine hydrological regime, e.g. spring-fed, topogenous, both etc.
Maintain current hydrological regime
Monitor water levels and quality
Vegetation management:
Identify existing regime by talking to owner/manager
Continue with existing management
Monitor vegetation change
Water management:
Investigate possibility/desirability of return to natural hydrological
regime
Block drains
Consider lowering of fen surface
Prevent flow of nutrient-enriched water into fen (e.g. install silt trap;
create nutrient-stripping wetland upstream; bring surrounding land into
sympathetic management)
Monitor water levels and quality
Vegetation management:
Manage scrub and trees
Restoration cut to remove standing crop and litter
Controlled burn
Introduce cutting regime
Introduce grazing animals
Monitor vegetation change
Water management:
Identify sources of water, chemistry and nutrient status
Consider full re-instatement of natural hydrology
Consider engineering options necessary for target fen type e.g.
bunding, sluices, ditch creation, land forming
Monitor water levels and quality
Vegetation management:
Assess feasibility of natural regeneration
Consider soil remediation, e.g. topsoil removal
Consider bringing in seed/green hay from nearby sources
Introduce grazing animals
Establish cutting regime
Monitor vegetation development