Information and Advisory Note Number 14 Back to menu
1.1 This information and advice note aims to provide farmers with guidance on the
creation and management of waterside margins beside flowing water and still
waterbodies.
1.2 The margins of watercourses and ponds offer excellent opportunities for
habitat creation and enhancement, as well as benefits for agricultural
management. The value of a margin depends on its characteristics and the way it
is managed. Basic characteristics include location (particularly relative to
other habitats), dimensions, height above water level, and the existing variety
of vegetation.
1.3 The benefits from waterside margins include:
2.1 This information and advice considers three land use types and broad
management regimes:
Landuse types:
Management types:
Usually the semi-natural habitat is managed for its wildlife value. Options for
the management of margins on previously improved land are:
3.1 Marginal vegetation can form an important buffer between a watercourse and
agricultural activity on arable or grass fields (for example, fertiliser, muck
and pesticide applications). The wider the strip and the more coarse the
vegetation structure, the better will be the buffer effect.
3.2 Coarse vegetation can filter out silt carried by sheet run-off from farm land.
The vegetation slows the flow of run-off, causing the sift and pollutants bound
up with the silt to be deposited on the margin rather than in the water. Silt
also holds considerable reserves of phosphate - an agricultural resource on the
field but a pollutant in the watercourse. Soil erosion is an issue that should
clearly be addressed at source by good land management.
3.3 Pollution by pesticides can be reduced in
a number of ways:
3.4 Waterside margins reduce nitrate
leaching by:
3.5 Reducing pollution from fertilisers and soil runoff can, in turn, slow the
rate of silting and plant growth, avoiding the need for frequent dredging.
3.6 In arable situations, establishing a waterside margin along watercourses may
have the following benefits:
3 7 Correctly managed, waterside margins beside arable fields can give added
flexibility to access around the farm. Care must be taken to ensure that,
wherever possible, the use of these areas for access does not cause too much
disturbance to wildlife.
3.8 Management work which widens the waterside margin and provides improved
grass or tree and shrub cover will generally enhance the landscape.
4.1 Coarse vegetation at the waterside provides feeding, cover and breeding sites for
4.2 Fish benefit from bankside vegetation,
which provides:
4.3 Vertical earthbanks provide nest sites for
kingfishers and sand martins (particularly
where a steep drop directly into water offers
security from predators such as weasels).
Solitary bees and wasps will also burrow into
such banks for breeding sites.
5.1 Meandering watercourses create a variety of habitats which are lost with
straightening or "canalization" of the watercourse. Management should aim to
retain the meandering character and its associated habitats.
5.2 Watercourses often flow through semi-natural habitats such as unimproved
grassland or wetland. The management of these features should aim to conserve
and enhance the existing value of the site and should avoid overgrazing,
undergrazing or inappropriate mowing regimes. Advice should be sought on their
correct management.
5.3 Even where poor in plant species, wetlands can still be of high conservation
value, particularly when subject to occasional flooding. Rough, rushy pastures
provide an important habitat for invertebrates and are therefore feeding and
breeding grounds for waders such as snipe, redshank, curlew and lapwing. Bam
owls and other birds of prey hunt over rushy ground for voles.
5.4 In many situations waterside margins are uneven and rough, proving difficult
to mow. For this reason controlled grazing by cattle is likely to be the
preferred method of
management. Ungrazed margins occur where stock are not available or where the
ground is too wet or unsafe for stock.
5.5 If sites are left without grazing or mowing, scrub may develop naturally.
While scrub is in itself a valuable habitat, the original semi-natural habitat
is likely to be of more value. If archaeological features occur at the
waterside, the development of scrub may result in damage by roots.
6.1 Reseeded and improved, grassland, arable land or set-aside can be left to
revert or regenerate. Regeneration may come from the existing seed bank in the
soil, seed from upstream sources delivered by the watercourse and other
mechanisms of seed dispersal, such as animal and wind.
6.2 Regeneration will result initially in the development of rank vegetation with
a poor range of species, and may include thistles and docks (plus some crop
volunteers on previously arable land). While undesirable in the farming context
this will have a value for overwintering invertebrates (many of which are
beneficial for the natural control of crop pests), small mammals, seed and
insect-eating birds and higher predators.
6.3 Where a weed problem does arise this can be controlled by spot-spraying weeds
with those herbicides approved for use in or by watercourses and waterbodies.
6.4 The variety of plant species on regenerating or reverting sites will
increase over time if given the right mowing and/or grazing management. In many
arable areas farmers have rough toppers" for use on set-aside.
6.5 If preferred, regenerating/reverting sites could be left to progress to scrub
cover. Unlike the development of scrub on semi-natural habitats, tree and shrub
cover on improved ground is likely to a beneficial development for wildlife
6.6 An alternative to allowing regeneration or reversion of improved land Is to
sow a wildflower mix. Again, management by grazing and/or mowing will be needed
if a diverse, scrub-free wetland / grassland margin is intended.
6.7 On some waterside margins it may be desirable to plant native, marginal water
plants which will diversify the habitat and give added cover. This is only
advisable where the depth of the water will limit the spread of plants or where
the owner is prepared to do any necessary management.
6.8 It is important to appreciate the effect that the use of arable land will have
on the eligible area for Arable Area Payments. Set-aside and the Habitats Scheme
make allowances for this. Similarly, putting grazing ground into an ungrazed use
will affect forage hectarage. If in doubt consult a Scottish Office Agriculture,
Environment and Fisheries Department (SOAEFD) officer.
7.1 Sheep require little water, getting what they need from grazing. Cattle require access to water and can cause poaching and collapse of the margins. This could result in
7.2 Limited stock access to waterside
margins can however produce benefits such
as,
7.3 Limited, beneficial poaching is
particularly productive for invertebrates,
providing valuable feeding for,
8.1 Waterside margins require fencing where,
8.2 Where fencing is erected to exclude stock, it may be easier to provide
alternative stock-watering facilities than to create breaks in the fence.
8.3 Include gates in all fencing (even if they are simple lift-gates). This allows
for the introduction/removal of stock and the use of machinery as necessary.
8.4 in some instances temporary electric fencing may be all that is required to
control periodic grazing.
9 1 Trees and shrubs stabilise banks, limit erosion, provide shelter and
wildlife habitat and are visually attractive.
9.2 Extensive dense woodland adjacent to watercourses and ponds is undesirable.
Tree cover should be varied, comprising patches of overhanging trees and shrubs,
dense scrub, scattered scrub, stands of tall trees with understorey and
scattered tall trees.
9.3 Overhanging trees provide a source of insect food for fish plus leaf litter to
feed aquatic invertebrates. They also provide fishing posts for kingfishers.
9.4 While some shade is beneficial to fish, dense shade may kill vegetation,
reducing bank stability and causing an increase in undercutting and erosion. The
effect is greatest on smaller watercourses. If shading is likely to cover much
of the water,
9.5 The use of dense shade (from tree and shrub cover) is sometimes recommended as
a means of controlling aquatic plants. This is appropriate as long as some areas
of plant cover are retained elsewhere, to provide oxygenation, cover and feeding
& breeding sites for aquatic life.
9.6 Retain large, old standing trees with good root-structure. This helps to
stabilise banks and may provide a suitable location for an otter holt.
9.7 Planted species should be appropriate to the location, native and preferably
of local provenance. Suitable species to consider are: willows, alder, rowan,
ash and aspen
10.1 For margins to be of greatest value to wildlife it is desirable to have a mix
of habitats, incorporating tall and short grassland (some overhanging the water)
and some tree and shrub cover.
10.2 When undertaking management work, such as dredging, ditch clearance and
control of waterside plants, try to rotate the work, operating on different
sections each year. Avoid management works such as these, as well as
mowing/topping, when ground-nesting birds may be disturbed. Do not dump cuttings
or material from clearance work on the bankside. Wherever possible dispose of
this off-site.
10.3 There should be no direct application of pesticides, artificial fertiliser or
organic fertiliser (farmyard manure or slurry) onto any waterside margin. The
exception is the spot application of herbicides for the control of problem weeds
or for weed control around planted trees and shrubs (see below).
10.4 If it is necessary to control waterside plants, use only those herbicides
approved for use in or by water and ensure the removal of dead material from the
site. Low intensity grazing or mechanical clearance is preferable to herbicide
use. Herbicides usually offer only short-term control. Removal of certain
species may lead to domination by other troublesome weeds.
10.5 Only a restricted range of herbicides has
approval for use in/near water. The use of
herbicides is strictly controlled and you should
follow the recommendations of
10.6 When using herbicides:
10.7 Control problem weeds such as giant hogweed and Japanese & giant knotweed by
spot-treatment only. Use only those herbicides approved for use in and by
watercourses. Control giant hogweed by cutting all roots below ground level in
May-June just before the seed-head is properly formed. Cutting at or above
ground level allows abundant regrowth from the base and is seldom worthwhile.
Alternatively consider treatment with glyphosate at "rosette" stage (March- late
May). Follow up in succeeding seasons. Japanese and giant knotweed can be
controlled by spot-spraying in July -August.
10.8 Before using herbicides for weed control consult with the appropriate River
Purification Board / Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Natural
Heritage (on designated sites).
11.1 The Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme supports the conservation of waterside margins. The following ESAs will give annual (Tier 2) payments for the positive management and enhancement of water margins:
11.2 The Habitat Scheme operated by SOAEFD offers farmers within the watershed of
the Don, Dee, Spey or Tweed payments for establishing margins of 6m - 20m width
on improved grass or arable land. Stock are not permitted on the margin, which
must be mown, with the cuttings disposed of responsibly and not fed to stock.
Arable land entered into the Habitats Scheme on or after 1 July 1995 can count
towards a farm's eligible Arable Area. Contact the local SOAEFD office for
clarification.
11.3 Under the Arable Area Payments Scheme, guaranteed set-aside (or flexible
set-aside, which is less valuable for wildlife) can be used to establish field
.margins of 20m_ minimum width and at least 0.3 ha in area. This can be sited
alongside watercourses and waterbodies and is subject to the management rules
for guaranteed set-aside.
11.4 Grant may also be available from SOAEFD or SNH for management of waterside
margins outside those catchments dealt with by the Habitat Scheme.
11.5 The Forestry Authority's Woodland Grant Scheme offers grants for establishing
tree cover by planting or natural regeneration. This includes waterside
locations.
Further reading and references,
FWAG Scotland, Forth River Purification Board and Scottish Agricultural College
(1995) "Buffer Strips"
Lewis, G and Williams, G (1994) "New Rivers and Wildlife Handbook9. RSPB/NRA.
Rebane, M and Andrews, J (1994) "Farming and Wildlife - practical management
handbook'. RSPB
SNH (1996) "Freshwater Macrophyte Control" - Information and Advice Note 3.
SNH (1996) "Grazing Management -unimproved and herb-rich pasture" -Information
and Advice Note 8.
SNH (1996) The Management of unimproved lowland grassland for nature
conservation" -Information and Advice Note 11.
(Scottish Native Woodlands expect to produce advisory leaflets on
re-establishing waterside tree-cover by spring 1996)
Jeremy Roberts, Research and Advisory Officer - Agriculture and Land Management.
Vyv Wood-Gee
Countryside Management Consultant
Scabgill
Braehead
Lanark, ML11 8HA
Jeremy Roberts, Agriculture and Woodland Environments Branch (AWEB)
Daniel Gotts, AWEB
David Howell, Aquatic Environments Branch
Research and Advisory Services Directorate
2 Anderson Place,
Edinburgh, EH6 SNP
Tel: 0131-447 4784